Today is Monday, May 4th,
uh 2026. It's approximately 1:00 p.m.
I'm Mayor Eric Enriquez.
Before we start, I want to mention that
we have the ASL interpreter available up
front.
If you all join me and stand, we'll
start with a moment of silence for the
brave men and women of the United Armed
Forces and our local police and fire
department that protect our city.
And also, I just want to share
that [clears throat] we had a
one of our family members, a city
employee with a quality of life, John
Delgado, lost his life in a
in a tragic motorcycle crash this
weekend. So, we'd like to offer a moment
of silence for him as well.
Councilor McClure will lead us in the
pledge.
I pledge allegiance to the flag
of the United States of America,
and to the republic for which it stands,
one nation under God, indivisible, with
liberty and justice for all.
[snorts]
First on the agenda will be the
presentation of certifications and
proclamations by Councilor McClure.
Good afternoon, everyone.
Strap in, there's seven of them,
but each of them will get their own due
here.
[snorts]
First one will be proclamation for
affordable housing month pre- presented
to Tierra del Sol and Mesilla Valley
Habitat for Humanity.
Those who are affiliated with that
should come on down.
Whereas safe, stable, and affordable
housing is a fundamental to the health,
well-being, and economic stability of
individuals, families, and communities.
And whereas access to affordable housing
strengthens neighborhoods, supports
workforce stability, and improves the
quality of life for residents. And
whereas communities across the nation
continue to face housing affordability
challenges that require collaboration
and sustained investment from local,
state, federal, nonprofit, and private
sector partners. And whereas
the city of Las Cruces works to expand
housing opportunities through programs
that support homeownership, housing
rehabilitation, neighborhood
revitalization, and the development of
affordable housing. And whereas
nonprofit organizations play a vital
role in advancing affordable housing
opportunities, including Tierra del Sol
Housing Corporation, founded in 1973,
and celebrating 53 years of service to
the Las Cruces community.
And whereas Mesilla Valley Habitat for
Humanity, established in 1987, has
helped families achieve home ownership
through the construction of affordable
homes, and has built 139 homes in
partnership with the city of Las Cruces,
local families, and volunteers. Now,
therefore, we, the mayor and the city
council of Las Cruces, New Mexico, do
hereby proclaim the month of May 2026 as
Affordable Housing Month.
And this is attested by the mayor and
Christine Rivera, the city clerk. So,
thank you very much.
[applause]
Oh, this is wonderful. Yes.
I am Rose Garcia with Tierra del Sol
Housing and I'm really proud to be here
and to talk about affordable housing and
home ownership in Las Cruces.
And we're very fortunate
with the support is all is the the
passion from the city council about
promoting housing for many of the
residents in the community.
Thank you, Cassie and city council.
Thank you very much for the continued
support and for encouraging the
residents of Las Cruces.
And we want to continue to do more
development and collaboration with other
organizations as well as residents.
Thank you.
[applause]
What she said.
[laughter]
I'm Andrew McAfee. I'm president board
president of Habitat for Humanity and
ever since I've been involved the city
has been absolutely wonderful in
supporting us. I appeared before the
city council about 12 years ago when we
wanted to put RV lots
across from our office because we get
Habitat Caravaners that come all over
the from all over the country to build
houses here in Las Cruces and the city
approved it and now we have a 12
slot RV thing across our across from our
office and the city has been very
generous over the years with donating
lots or giving discounted lots.
One being in Star where that is an I
don't know if anybody knows this, that's
an entire habitat street with 60 houses
on it. So, um we just appreciate what
the city has done over the years, and we
look forward to a further collaboration
with you. Thank you.
[applause]
Next up, we have proclamation for the
Paso del Norte Air Basin in recognition
of the 30th anniversary of the Joint
Advisory Committee. So, if you're here
for that, come on down.
Whereas historically, portions of
Southern Doña Ana County have exceeded
the NAAQS
for the ozone and PM10, while El Paso
has exceeded US national ambient air
quality standards for ozone particulate
particulate matter and carbon monoxide,
Ciudad Juárez does not meet the air
quality Mexican official norms for
particulate matter and ozone pollutants.
Long-term exposure to these air
pollutants poses a threat to healthy
individuals, and whereas on May 7th,
1996, the United States and Mexican
governments took a major step toward
fostering cooperation for implementing
effective air pollution measures and
signed an agreement that created the
Joint Advisory Committee for the
improvement of air quality in Ciudad
Juárez, Chihuahua, El Paso, Texas, Doña
Ana County, New Mexico Air Basin.
Whereas by signing the May 7th, 1996
agreement, the United States and Mexican
governments formally recognize the
international air basin as one unified
air basin encompassing
the communities within the Paso del
Norte, emphasizing cost-effective
emission reductions, engaging local
private citizens, and addressing
priorities that more accurately reflect
community needs.
And whereas we the people of these
communities acknowledge the JACE's
activities and their commitment for
improving air quality and wish to
recognize the 30th anniversary of the
JASC on May 7th, 2026
honoring the organizers of programs and
projects conducted in the spirit of one
air basin approach.
And whereas after 30 years of signing
the pioneer agreement empowering the
communities of the Paso del Norte region
to develop cooperative transboundary
strategies for the improvement of air
quality and committing to the implement
these strategies through each county
countries environmental law.
Now, therefore, we the mayor city
council of Las Cruces, New Mexico do
hereby proclaim May 7th, 2026 as a Paso
del Norte air basin recognition of the
30th anniversary of the Joint Advisory
Committee.
All citizens of our communities may
share in the celebration of our air, the
lifeblood of our region.
[applause]
Don't want to take up a lot of the time,
but
we respectfully appreciate
the proclamation. We don't want to
repeat everything that's in here, but
this is a significant milestone for our
region.
The 30th anniversary of the Joint
Advisory Committee on the improvement of
air quality in Ciudad Juarez,
Chihuahua,
El Paso, Paso
Doña Ana County, New Mexico, known as
the JAC, the J A C.
As noted in the proclamation on May 7th,
1996,
the governments of the United States and
Mexico signed a historic agreement
formally establishing the JAC with a
very clear mission
foster international
cooperation on effective air quality
management within the shared Paso del
Norte air basin.
For three decades, the JAC has played a
critical role in addressing air
pollution across the region.
With Las Cruces serving as an important
contributor through its location within
Doña Ana County,
local governments, public health
agencies, community organizations, and
academic partners based here in Las
Cruces have supported the JAC's work by
participating in air quality planning,
public education, emissions reduction
initiatives, and regional coordination
efforts.
Although air pollution knows no
boundaries, it's like a mosquito. It
just kind of goes where it wants.
Las Cruces has consistently been a part
of the regional solution.
We have recognized that the conditions
in Juarez and El Paso directly influence
air quality throughout Don- Doña Ana
County.
The JAC's worth
work has helped ensure that the
residents of Las Cruces
benefit from cleaner air, improved
monitoring, and coordinated responses to
air quality challenges that affect
children, older adults, and vulnerable
populations.
By recognizing the JAC's 30th
anniversary on May 7th, 2026, just a few
days, we honor the founding
organizations,
past and present members, and the
collaborative programs that have made
this a binational partnership as a model
for the entire region. Thank you again.
[applause]
The next proclamation is for National
Bike Month.
So, if you're here associated with that,
come on down.
All the faces on the list, excellent.
[snorts]
Whereas the bicycle is an
environmentally and economically sound
form of transportation and recreation
that also promotes physical and mental
health.
And whereas the League of American
Bicyclists, the Mesilla Valley
Metropolitan Planning Organization, the
City of Las Cruces, the Las Cruces
Public Schools, Velo Cruces, along with
local cycling clubs and independent
bicyclists are promoting greater public
awareness of bicycle operation and
safety education.
And whereas the City of Las Cruces in
2021 earned a renewal bronze level
designation as a bicycle friendly
community from the League of American
Bicyclists and is preparing the next
renewal application.
And whereas the City of Las Cruces has
been awarded a Safe Streets for All
grant from the US Department of
Transportation and is using it to update
the active transportation plan and
implement three demonstration projects.
And whereas
the City of Las Cruces continues to
improve bicycle routes and trails for
transportation and recreation. And the
City, with Mesilla Valley MPO, Doña Ana
County, and Las Cruces Public Schools
supports the Safe Routes to Schools
program, and whereas
bicyclists of all ages throughout Las
Cruces, the Mesilla Valley, and the
nation will be promoting bicycling as an
environmentally friendly alternative to
the automobile and a wholesome activity
that improves health during the month of
May 2026 through group rides, events,
and commuting to school and work. Now,
therefore, we, the mayor and city
council of Las Cruces, New Mexico, do
hereby proclaim the month of May 2026 as
National Bike Month, the week of May
through May May 5th through May 8th as
Las Cruces Bike to School Week, the week
of May 11th through May 17th, the Las
Cruces Bike to Work Week, with May 15th
as Las Cruces Bike to Work Day
throughout our proud city, and urge all
who support bicycling to participate in
the events planned. Congratulations.
Thank you very much for this
proclamation. Um May is Bike Month, and
we've had some nice weather. So, we
actually started out with some
activities in April. The Tour de
Optimism was April 19th, and the Family
Bike Fiesta was April 25th.
Um this weekend, we had May 3rd Sunday
was Ride a Bike Day
with a bike blessing at the UU Church.
And
as mentioned, the Bike to School Days.
And on May 11th, we'll be at next
visibility ride with Velo Cruces, and
the mayor pro tem told me he would come
to this one.
So, I'm going to hold him to that.
Um and then the Bike to Work Week and
Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 15th
with a Velo Cruces meet and greet at
5:00. On the way home from work, you can
ride the Velo to a Little Toad Creek and
enjoy some refreshments with us. May
20th will be the Ride of Silence, where
we remember those who have been uh
seriously injured or killed while riding
their bicycles. And then spilling over
to June a little bit, we have the
Everybody Rides with Grace Adaptive
Cycle Parade in Nic A.
And we have a Father's Day ride on June
21st that we leave from Pioneer Woman's
Park and go up to the airport and have
breakfast up there. So, thank you for
this and maybe Ashley can talk more.
Ashley doesn't want to talk more about
the bike to school. So, the bike to
school is this week. So, every morning
uh the watch out for bicyclists and come
out and join if you can. Thank you.
[applause]
Next is a proclamation for Nurses Week
and I see some people with scrubs and
probably comfortable shoes out there.
Y'all should come down.
Come on down. I see you guys.
Both sides and big badges. That's also
appropriate lot of times.
Don't worry, we will squeeze you all in.
It's
make it work.
Perfect.
Whereas nurses in the United States
constitute our nation's largest
healthcare profession, and whereas the
depth and breadth of the nursing
profession continues to meet the
different and emerging healthcare needs
of our population in a wide range of
settings. And whereas professional
nursing is an indispensable component of
the safety and quality of care of
hospitalized and non-hospitalized
patients. And whereas in addition to
addressing vital healthcare needs,
nurses have a critical understanding of
the challenges patients face and are
concerned with their patients overall
well-being and encourage healthy living
and preventative practices.
And whereas the demand for nursing
services will be greater than ever
because of the aging population,
emerging health challenges, and
continuing expansion of life-sustaining
technologies, and the growth of home
healthcare services. And whereas more
qualified nurses are needed in the
future to meet the increasingly complex
needs of healthcare consumers in our
community. And whereas the
cost-effective, safe, and high-quality
healthcare services provided by nurses
will be an increasingly important
component of the healthcare delivery
system in the future. And whereas along
with American Nurses Association, the
New Mexico Nurses Association has
declared May 6th through 12th as Nurses
Week with a theme the power of nurses
with appreciation for nurses
unparalleled impact and their
contributions to healthcare and an open
invitation to celebrate the power of
nurses to enrich our lives and the world
we live in.
Now, therefore, we the mayor and city
council of Las Cruces, New Mexico ask
that all residents of our community join
us in honoring the nurses who care for
all of us, and that the residents of the
city of Las Cruces celebrate nurses'
accomplishments and efforts to improve
our healthcare system and show our
appreciation for the nation's nurses not
just during the week, but at every
opportunity throughout the year.
Congratulations.
[applause]
Hello, my name's Denton Park. I'm the
CEO of Three Crosses Hospital and I was
the CEO former CEO of Mountain View
Regional Medical Center. So, many of
these wonderful nurses up here I've had
the opportunity to work closely with.
We're so grateful for nurses. I think if
you look in your life, you've always had
somebody who's got a huge heart,
incredible compassion, is always there
and available for you and and they're
there to help you when you're at your
lowest and and when you need somebody
the most. And nurses are absolutely
amazing. So, we're so grateful for them,
grateful to be able to honor them this
week. I'll be honest with you. If it
wasn't for nursing, the health care
system would crumble completely. So,
when you think about the health care
system and all the wonderful care that
you receive from your physician, from
whoever may be your care provider when
you go to the ER, when you when you see
your first responders who who are there
on scene immediately, if it wasn't for
the nurses that we have, we would cease
to exist as a health care system. So,
we're so grateful for them, grateful for
the city of Las Cruces for the wonderful
people and the incredible leadership
that recognizes just this this wonderful
group of individuals. So, we're we're so
grateful for each and every one of them,
both here today and with us throughout
every single shift, 24 hours a day, 7
days a week, 365 days a year. So,
grateful for all the nurses. Thank you
so much.
[applause]
I wasn't expecting to say anything. I'm
Kathy Fernald, I'm the Chief Nursing
Officer from Memorial Medical Center. I
just want to thank all of you for the
proclamation, but as well as for
allowing us to take care of you. At the
very beginning of your life as well as
the end of your life, it's a privilege
and an honor to be able to do that and
serve you and the community of Las
Cruces. Thank you.
[applause]
I'm April Hayden Reich from Three
Crosses. I'm the CNO there and I'm so
privileged to be able to be part of a
new hospital to
help the people of Las Cruces. I've been
in the system for over 30 years in the
city and to watch it grow, to work with
many of the people that are here
standing in front of you has been such a
privilege and to serve the community is
such every single day. That's what we
believe in. That's why we're here.
That's why we do what we do and so
grateful to the city that promotes
health care and and helps us to keep our
population as healthy as possible. So,
thank you.
[applause]
All right, anyone else? If not, thank
you very much. Can I take a picture?
Do you want to Do you want to do it
here?
Or can we squeeze?
Okay.
Tighten up.
[applause]
Hey, all of you.
Next proclamation is for Economic
Development Week.
All right.
Oh.
We're having more come in. It's all
good.
Going once, going twice. Okay.
Whereas more than 100,000 economic
development or related professionals
worldwide are committed to creating,
retaining, and expanding top-tier
opportunities that facilitate long-term
equitable community growth. And whereas
economic development profession
cultivates thriving neighborhoods,
champions sustainability and resiliency,
boosts economic prosperity, enhances the
quality of life, and builds robust tax
bases.
And whereas economic development
professionals operate through diverse
economic environments, including rural,
suburban, and urban settings, local,
state, provincial, and national
governments, public-private
partnerships, chambers of commerce,
institutions of higher education, among
many similar organizations and
associations. And whereas economic
development professionals serve as
stewards, bridging connections between
community stakeholders such as
residents, business leaders, elected
officials, industry executives, and
educational administrations to
collaborate in promoting job creation,
community investment, infrastructure
advancements, and optimistic future. And
whereas economic developers contribute
to the betterment and progress of Las
Cruces and Doña Ana County within the
state of New Mexico. Now, therefore, we,
the mayor and city council of Las
Cruces, New Mexico, do hereby proclaim
May 4th through 8th, 2026, as Economic
Development Week, and remind individuals
of the importance of this community
celebration, which supports expanding
opportunities, bettering lives, and
moving society forward. Congratulations
to all.
[applause]
Good afternoon, Mayor, Council. We'd
like to take this opportunity to thank
you for this proclamation in recognizing
Economic Development Week this week.
Um we, as a department, we work together
every day.
We um work with our partners who help us
get pull our initiatives through. We
support our small businesses, and we
work stronger to provide opportunities
for our workforce. And that is what is
making Las Cruces a better place today.
It is with our partners that stand with
us today that make us a stronger
community and help us through all of our
initiatives. Would any of our partners
like to speak today?
My name is Lorenzo Alba, the immediate
past chair of MVEDA, and also a current
executive board member at MVEDA. And it
is an absolute pleasure to be up here
representing this organization that not
only partners with the city of Las
Cruces, Doña Ana County, but also the
chambers uh to bring a better life to
New Mexicans here in Southern New
Mexico. So, thank you so much, and God
bless all of you.
[applause]
Thank you. Thank you all the partners
and I just want to take this time to
recognize and acknowledge our Senator
Carrie Hamblin. Thank you. Thank you for
being a partner. Thank you for all you
do.
[applause]
The next proclamation is for historic
preservation month.
All those in
associated.
Dr. Wallace.
I'm okay.
Whereas historic preservation is an
effective tool for revitalizing
neighborhoods, fostering local pride,
and maintaining community character
while enhancing economic stability.
And whereas the city of Las Cruces is
home to a rich cultural heritage
including buildings such as the Railroad
Museum and the Women's Improvement
Association Building and neighborhoods
such as Mesilla Park Historic District.
And whereas the city of Las Cruces
retains certified local government
status through the United States
Department of the Interior affirming its
commitment to preservation while
enjoying the benefits of CLG status. And
whereas preservation efforts in Las
Cruces contribute to the city's economic
development by reinvesting in
neighborhoods, supporting local
businesses, and encouraging adaptive
reuse of historic buildings.
And whereas the city of Las Cruces
values the role of its residents,
organizations, and institutions in
advocating for and preserving historic
resources that embody our community's
unique identity. And whereas historic
preservation month is celebrated
nationwide each May to recognize the
importance of protecting and promoting
historic places that tell the story of
our shared past and help shape our
future.
Now, therefore, we, the mayor and city
council of Las Cruces, New Mexico, do
hereby proclaim the month of May 2026 as
historic preservation month and extend
its gratitude to the members of the
historic preservation committee and the
staff of the community development
department for their commitment to
historic preservation and call upon all
citizens to celebrate, promote, and
support the preservation of our
community's irreplaceable historic
assets. Congratulations.
[applause]
Hello. I'm Caitlin Beasley. I'm the
historic preservation specialist with
the city and community development. Um,
I'd like to
uh thank you guys for the appreciation
and the recognition. Um, and also I want
to recognize uh I've had two great
interns over the past year. This marks
actually my 1-year anniversary with the
city. So, it's it's a
yeah, fun time to be here right now.
Thank
Um, I'd also like to recognize um our
current intern, Kenneth Potojeky, and uh
we have a former intern, um Jordan
Gladstone, who couldn't be here today.
So, thank you both.
Um, for historic preservation month, we
have a few activities that are happening
around the community. Um, to find out
more, please uh pay attention to the
city's website and social media
accounts. Um, I will also be at the farm
and farmers and crafts market on
Saturday. Um, I have a booth outside the
Branigan Cultural Center. So, for anyone
who wants more information, please come
find me at the farmers market. Um, and I
think I'll turn it over to our chair,
the chair of our historic preservation
committee, Jerry Wallace, who uh
is uh This isn't public quite just yet.
I mean, it is now, but is going to get
an award from the state. So,
please give him a round of applause for
that.
[applause]
Thank you. And I'd like to say that,
you know, thank you for acknowledging
historic preservation and historic
preservation month.
A couple of things I just want to update
the community about when we're thinking
about preservation is that in our long
history both being in New Mexico and
part of the borderlands, we often think
about our identity in a very complex
way. We think about it mostly through
race and ethnicity. But one thing that I
would sort of challenge everybody to
think about is the historical identity
of our buildings and what they say about
our community. And in Las Cruces, we
have
really interesting brand of architecture
and building styles and types that are
not what you see in the rest of the
state. And so, every time that we
preserve these particular buildings or
think about what they mean to the
community, we're also preserving our
identity as being very unique in this
contribution of New Mexico and what it
means to be New Mexican. And so,
what we're going to We're still, I would
say, as a historic preservation
committee, we're still thinking about
what our role is in the community. But
one thing that we're hopeful that we're
going to do this year is come up with a
historic preservation plan that will
give the entire community a common
language so that when we're thinking
about preservation and we're thinking
about buildings and what they mean to
our identity and our community, we can
have a common language to discuss what
that means. And so, part of that piece
is thinking about guidelines to historic
preservation. And also a piece of that
is thinking about new historic districts
and new historic neighborhoods in our
community, which we have lots and lots
and lots that contribute to that
identity. So, we're We're to be active.
We're going to be out in the community
talking with lots and lots of residents.
And so we would love to hear your
thoughts if you have any about historic
preservation. Thank you.
[applause]
Next is a proclamation for the
Professional Municipal Clerks Week.
That'd be you. Yeah, come on down.
Come on. Come on.
Read it first?
Okay. You got to jump out. Okay.
Okay. Wonderful.
Whereas the office of the Professional
Municipal Clerk, a time-honored and
vital part of local government, exists
throughout the world. And whereas the
office of the Professional Municipal
Clerk is the oldest among public
servants. And whereas the office of the
Professional Municipal Clerk provides
the professional link between the
citizens, the local governing bodies,
and agencies of government at other
levels. And whereas Professional
Municipal Clerks have pledged to be ever
mindful of their neutrality and
impartiality, rendering equal service to
all. And whereas the Professional
Municipal Clerk serves as the
information center on the functions of
local government and community.
And whereas Professional Municipal
Clerks continually strive to improve the
administration of the affairs of the
office of the Professional Municipal
Clerk through the participation in
education programs, seminars, workshops,
and the annual meetings of their state
and provincial, county, and
international professional
organizations. And whereas it is most
appropriate that we recognize the
accomplishments of the office of the
professional municipal clerk. Now
therefore, we the mayor and city council
of Las Cruces, New Mexico, do hereby
proclaim the week of May 3rd through
9th, 2026 as professional municipal
clerks week and further extend
appreciation to our professional
municipal clerk and to all professional
municipal clerks for the vital services
they perform and their exemplary
dedication to the communities they
represent. Congratulations.
[applause]
I attested my own proclamation, so I
just want to let everybody know that.
[laughter]
Um
I asked my team to be here today.
They're actually in the back cuz I told
them they're not forced to come up here.
Um but I asked them to be here today
because they deserve just as much
recognition um and sometimes more than I
do. These are the faces that you never
see but work tirelessly behind the
scenes to make sure that we stay
compliant. They do not get all the
credit they deserve and as a city clerk
I cannot be prouder to have them on my
team.
They're literally the backbone of the
city clerk's office and so I just want
to thank my team for everything that
they do. Thank you guys.
[applause]
Next on the agenda is a departmental
highlights. We'll start with economic
development.
Good afternoon, Mayor and City Council.
My name is Elizabeth Teeters and I'm
going to be giving you an update on
economic development what we have going
on. But first, um, as part of economic
development week, communications put
together a video that highlights my
amazing team and the work we're doing.
So, I wanted to show it.
Economic development is about [music]
helping our city grow in ways that are
strategic, sustainable, and
community-focused. Our work supports
businesses, creates opportunity, and
strengthens the places that make Los
Cruces unique. That impact happens
through [music] people and through the
roles each of us play every day.
That often starts off with projects
[music] and recruitment, supporting
existing and expanding businesses, and
helping them find a place to grow,
especially within [music] our industrial
park.
To make sure those efforts are
successful, [music]
we rely on data and targeted programs
that respond to real business needs,
including tools like storefront repair
and safety [music] improvement programs.
Those investments are supported by
long-term planning. We're able [music]
to revitalize neighborhoods and
corridors by reinvesting in targeted
areas.
In downtown, the planning becomes action
by [music] supporting our local
businesses and activities in the area
through events and initiatives that
bring people [music] and energy
together.
So, come on down.
A key part of that activation is the Rio
Grande Theatre, bringing visitors
downtown through performances [music]
and events that support the local
businesses, tourism, and the overall
experience.
And behind [music] all of this is strong
collaboration,
connecting businesses with workforce
resources, and building partnerships
that support long-term [music] retention
and expansion.
Supporting growth also means managing
[music] the city's real property,
coordinating acquisitions, sales, and
leases, and maintaining the inventory
that makes [music] development possible.
This is just a snapshot of what economic
development does. Together, we will
continue supporting [music] businesses,
strengthening neighborhoods, and
continue making places where Las Cruces
will continue to thrive.
[music]
Okay. So, now let's getting started with
the update. Um
we already talked it's National Economic
Development Week, but I did bring want
to bring to your attention that last
week was National Apprenticeship Week,
and this week is also National Small
Business Week.
And since Blair was able to come up and
talk to you all last week and discuss
everything going on with the um MREs and
all the work that's being put in, I
wanted to spend the spotlight today
focusing on the industrial park.
So, our Las Cruces Innovation Industrial
Park has a lot of activity going on and
I'm just going to go project by project.
Um First off, we have the Independent
Electrical Contractors IEC. Uh they are
apprenticeship program within the city.
I remember first meeting with them about
2 years ago up in the city manager's
office with Gentry. They had property,
they just didn't have the funding needed
to get this project going. Uh we have
spent the last years building a
relationship with them. They are one of
our ARPA recipients for workforce
development and then we were able to
connect to connect them to NMFA to
finish that financing. And so, they have
already broke ground out there.
And this is going to be a huge um asset
to the industrial park having
apprenticeships out there.
The other project we have dirt moving,
it's um a property by Joel Calderon.
He's going to be building 10,000 sq ft
um just the first phase of three
buildings. Um putting about a million
dollars of investment in for CNC part
manufacturing and bringing about eight
jobs. This was a city property that was
sold to him like four or five years ago.
So, it's taken a while but we're finally
happy to see progress.
You are all familiar with Endurance. Um
we've had a lot. Again, I want to
mention that this was a nationwide
competitive process. We were able to put
in IRBs on the table. Mevida put their
New Mexico Borderplex closing fund and
the state's bringing LEADER to the
table, which I hope to be bringing to
council in the next month or two to get
finalized. Um they now spend about a
week here every month trying to get
their building going and we're hoping
they're still pushing for an end of the
year operation.
Uh so, a new business. Um Southern Roots
is a local business. It's a pecan
company. Um they are expanding their
operations. They built They just
purchased a facility out there. And so,
I just want to take a moment to welcome
them to the industrial park. Um it's an
exciting local business expansion.
Uh XYZ, that's what we call it. Isaac
will be into more detail cuz it is a
land sale coming in front of all of you
today. Uh but I just wanted to give a
minute, like a little bit of background
on this project. Um
as of a few years ago, we learned that
companies that wanted to expand or
locate in our area, they were looking
for existing buildings, which we didn't
have a lot of or any really, um cuz time
to market is key.
And so, with the part our partnership
with Movida, we spent a few years coming
up with strategy for either pre-spec or
spec development, trying to get a
developer here. We are very very
fortunate to find the developers that
are going to be buying this prop
property today. And while we first
started the project for pre-spec, um we
are so excited that they're actually
moving forward with spec. And this is
because uh we've had every building that
comes on the market in the industrial
park is sold in a very short period of
time, which is showing proof of concept
and showing that if buildings go up,
they will be sold.
Uh we have two projects in the work, um
still going by project uh project names.
It's project pain and project tracking.
Um we have put
these are very competitive processes and
we have put incentives on the table.
We're keeping our fingers crossed um
that we can hopefully get both of them,
but we will see. It's been really
exciting up to this point.
Uh
the last few projects are partnerships
within the city that I want to talk
about. So, as you know, we received the
strategic site designation, and with
that comes pre-development funds that
are available. Um that application
process is open right now. So, we are
partnering with PD and their emergency
vehicle operations center to hopefully
um get some of those funds for road
buildout and to help with some of the
infrastructure at with um Chief Story's
site. Uh and we're hoping also to
leverage the $850,000 in congressional
dollars to do so.
Uh these hopefully, if we get the
funding, it will be road for road
buildout that will not only help for the
PD's
um center but also help get access to
properties we currently don't have
access to.
And then finally um as you all know also
that the airport has hosted the United
States Marine Corps month or so ago. Um
they were able to provide immediate
airspace, ground facilities, and support
for testing that would otherwise require
months of planning and preparation. Uh
we've been talking to uh contractors
from Wismer and various other entities
that need testing that can't take months
and months for the the wait that Wismer.
So we are hoping to build on this and
with our relationship with PSL uh the
physical science labs to get other
testing out at the industrial park
and at the airport.
So that was a quick update. Um I just
want to I wanted to put this on here and
so things always may seem calm but I I
want you know that my department and my
amazing team are doing everything they
can to um bring economic development to
the forefront of the city. Economic
development takes years sometimes to to
come to fruition as we're seeing. We've
been working with XY XYZ for at least a
year and a half, maybe 2 years, and
we're finally here today to so that they
can build Spec. That's just one example
and then as Blair was saying with MRA's
last week, um we've seen how much work
that's been put in and there's still
work to do. So I just want to thank you
for your support over the years and your
continued support as we see progress.
All right, thank you, Elizabeth.
Next we have Parks and Rec.
Good afternoon, mayors, uh members of
city council. Um
we're excited to be here and um
present
some highlights.
We want to feature just one of our um
summer programming things right now. And
today, the reason we're um featuring it
is because it the registration opens
today. It's um runs for 7 weeks. It'll
be located at Hornada Elementary, Monte
Vista Elementary, and Lynn Middle
School.
There are some things. They'll be like
the Great Outdoors, All About Animals,
The World of Sports, 250 Years of Red,
White, and Blue,
Superheroes and Animation, and others.
We also want to um announce the
Music in the Park Series.
The first part of it will kick off with
the Mother State concert on May 10th.
Carlos
Sesedo and E Grupo Exito
will be the group on that. And then we
have the Mayor's Jazz Fest on the May
24th,
the Leo Tiser Band. So,
just a couple of
the ones of that I'm going to mention at
this time. We will be putting out news
releases with information about the
groups
for the summer music program, but those
are the two coming up here in May.
You'll see more information on that.
Please enjoy
a summer full of live music and
community fun and great vibes. We invite
everyone to bring
a lawn chair, blankets, and family and
friends.
There are
features that are going to be, you know,
featuring artists who are local and
regional acts.
We also have our outdoor summer movie
series.
We just have four movies this year.
Zootopia, two, Black Panther, Goat, and
Encanto.
This is the part I'm most excited about.
Though I do have to say all of these
programs are going to be exciting.
Um as you know, this year marks a
monumental milestone in our country's
history, 250th anniversary of the
founding of our country.
And we're going to have some exciting
things going on, but as usual on um July
3rd, the night before, we have the um
light parade and we have the
5K and 1-mile fun run.
We encourage all of you to come out and
do it and invite the community as a
whole. One of the really neat things I
have witnessed the last 2 years is I've
seen kids as young as five running in
the 1-mile.
And so I think I'm going to be committed
to running this year if you want to join
me.
I saw some nods going, "Great. We're
excited to for you, but no, we're not."
The electric parade, the light parade is
I think one of the greatest things this
community has.
It's has some of the best, most
beautiful floats.
A lot of them it's just really high
quality and so we invite you and the
entire community to come out on July
3rd.
And now for um July 4th, we're
ecstatic to announce our um
feature band,
the 49 Winchesters.
Rolling Stones
magazine among others have named them
the next big thing in country music.
They are were just nominated for the ACM
2026 nomination for the group of the
year.
They've been touring with Luke Combs and
Chris Stapleton and they have 80 million
streams on their own song Russell County
Line.
And so we're getting a really high-end
band that's um just about to just take
off hot. Um they're projected really
become the next big thing and we're
excited.
It's um mix of Appalachian soul,
southern rock, and country music.
On the 4th of July, the gates will open
at 4:00 p.m. We want to remind people to
bring clear bags
um so that they can bring their stuff in
securely.
Um starting at 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.,
we'll have a kids zone with a bunch of
activities.
Triple Jack will be the opening act
starting at 6:45 and then the Winchester
49 Winchester's will start at 8:00 p.m.
And I believe the mayor
will be coming to do a welcome again
this year.
Thank you, mayor.
Fireworks are anticipated 9:49 p.m.
I stand for any questions you might
have.
No, that's great, Steve. A lot of
good things coming up. A lot of events.
Thank you for sharing and presenting and
yeah, I'll be there on the 4th of July.
Thank you, mayor.
Thank you.
Amelia.
Yeah, next we have Amelia Corrales with
the pets of the week.
Hello mayor, city council.
All right.
All right, so I'm back again for pets of
the week.
So, this week we have Mika. She is a
4-year-old girl who loves meeting new
people and jumps right into making
friends. She enjoys active play,
especially with other lively dogs, and
thrives when she gets plenty of exercise
and enrichment. Once she settles, she's
sweet, affectionate, and she just wants
to be part of your day. She's the
perfect match for an adopter who enjoys
an active and playful lifestyle.
Our second um pet of the week is Buddy,
who is a microchipped 1-year-old male.
This lively boy is full of happy energy
and loves greeting new people. He may
get jumpy or vocal when he's excited,
but his sweet nature shines through.
With plenty of activity and attention,
he'll quickly become loyal, affectionate
companion who's eager to share life's
adventures. Both of these dogs are very
energetic, very playful, and they are
free for adoption all week.
Um some of our long-term residents, and
we've noticed that some of our pets of
the week we've kind of been going
through long-term residents. That's what
we've been highlighting, and some of
them have been getting adopted, which is
super exciting.
Um but we still have a few on there.
Rose has been with the ASCMV for 333
days. Gockens has been with ASCMV 285
days.
Dobber has been with the ASCMV for 273
days, and Francesca has been with us for
268 days.
So, we have some events coming up. We've
been really trying to get more out into
the community. So as you can see we're
at the farmers market almost every
Wednesday in May and one Saturday in
May. Uh we go to Petco on May 9th,
PetSmart on May 23rd and Tractor Supply
on May 30th. So come out and see us. We
love to bring our animals out there and
you know, get them out for adoption. You
never know when you can meet your
your new furry best friend, right? Um so
for more information always you can
follow us on Facebook, Instagram and
visit our website. Our website does have
all of our available animals and it's
always up to date. So come check us out.
Our adoption hours start at 12:30. Feel
free to come by the shelter anytime and
see what we have to offer. It's a great
place.
So thank you and any questions?
No, we're good. Thank you, Amelia.
Appreciate it.
guys for having us. We appreciate it.
Next is a conflict of interest. Does any
member of city council, city manager or
any member of the city staff have any
known conflict of interest with any item
on the agenda?
No.
No conflict.
Next is public participation. We'll
allow up to 3 minutes. Please state your
name and speak directly into the
microphone. Uh no pending litigation or
items on the non-consent.
And Katrina will assist you
to the podium.
Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, council folks here
today, those watching online, I'm Lynn
Moore. Today I'm providing further scope
and detail regarding Las Cruces
Utilities mishandling of drinking water
quality related to lead. I have three
charts. Handout one is the drinking
water sampling schedule the department
used from 2015 through 2025.
You can see that utility samples
properties only once every 3 years.
Nothing prevents prevents them from
sampling more frequently. Handout two
compares the actual test results for
lead with the 27 consumer confidence
reports that falsified lead levels. It
sets out the lab reports by ID number
showing that in every case utilities
falsely reported a lead level lower than
the lab report. It also notes that
utilities did not report any of the five
results which exceeded the EPA action
level of 15 parts per billion. Handout
three lists all sampling utilities
carried out for lead from 2015 through
2024 showing among several things each
sampling date and each result. It totals
just 154 properties sampled out of about
40,000 connections citywide which
utilities acknowledges. It doesn't count
the thousands more, particularly mobile
homes, that utilities doesn't
acknowledge. In 2017 the department
provided no notice at all to two
property owners whose lead sampling
revealed a lead level above the action
level of 15 parts per billion. One test
showed 40 parts per billion of lead in
their water, the other 21 parts per
billion. This is a major non-compliance
with federal requirements in addition to
potential harm to the property owners.
During this 11-year period of the
department sampling only every third
year, results found five exceedances of
the action level. In addition to the two
just mentioned, a disadvantaged property
registered 89 parts per billion in 2018,
almost six times the action level. And
in 2023, two others showed 24 parts per
billion and 18 parts per billion
respectively. More exceedances likely
would be found if utility sampled more
frequently and sampled the requisite
number of properties each time.
Utilities did not resample the property
with 89 parts per billion. There's no
evidence that utilities has gone back to
this disadvantaged property since that
sky-high reading in 2018. That's very
troubling. Handout four is the notice
the department sent this property owner.
You'll note how it downplays the
significance of this very high lead
level in their drinking water. A
majority, 53%, of the properties sampled
have an estimated value of $300,000 or
higher. The median estimated value for
high-value properties sampled is more
than $100,000 higher than for
lower-valued properties. So, utilities
pattern of favoring wealthier properties
continues. Absurdly, the department
classifies a quarter of those high-value
properties as disadvantaged.
Thank you for this opportunity to speak.
Mayor Council, I'm Lis Rodriguez
Johnson. The evidence continues to grow
that utilities personnel are not
trustworthy. We citizens cannot be
confident that they are taking the
required steps to protect our health.
Rather, evidence multiplies that Las
Cruces Utilities habitually downplays
and deceives when findings show public
health is at risk.
This comes on top of clear knowledge
that they are not complying with
numerous federal legal requirements.
Lead in drinking water is particularly
hazardous for young children and unborn
children because lead passes through the
placenta. It's also very hazardous for
seniors.
Las Cruces Utilities failure to notify
the property owners with lead
exceedances in their drinking water is
unforgivable.
Consider what you would think and feel
if you had a pregnant wife or daughter
whose water utility sampled, then after
the child was born discovered through an
independent researcher
that her drinking water tested 89 parts
per billion for lead, but the department
had not notified her of that very high
level.
What if you saw that Las Cruces
Utilities lead and copper inventory
listing for the property where your
elderly parents live said not lead for
both service lines and you hired a
licensed plumber to check the service
lines and he found both were made
instead of galvanized piping with the
lead connectors?
Whether due to the department's
incompetence or deception, this too is
unforgivable.
Why did utilities come up with two
entirely different inspection reports
for each of 36 different properties that
originally showed galvanized piping as
detailed at the last meeting?
If you were one of those property
owners, you'd want a thorough
explanation as to why the department now
says that the piping is not galvanized.
You'd also question the competence of
the inspectors and the integrity of the
manager who instructed the second
inspector to come up with an entirely
different report.
If, after hiring a plumbing firm to
investigate your piping, two of the
firm's plumbers looked at the same
stretch of piping, then came up with two
different assessments as to what it was
made of, I suspect you'd be inclined not
to pay the firm, and you might
also want to throw the plumbers off your
property.
The evidence is strong, as spelled out
at our last two meetings, that Las
Cruces Utilities is taking many actions
to cover up the true number of
galvanized pipes in the city.
It's exceptionally unforgivable
that Utilities did not notify in
accordance with federal rules and
requirements even one of the 83 property
owners with galvanized pipes. Las Cruces
management needs to change. Thank you.
Good afternoon,
City Council members,
Mayor.
My name is Cindy Heber.
I am here to ask the City Council to
pass a resolution
against religious services here at City
Hall.
As I understand the Constitution
and the principle of separation of
church and state,
the National Day of Prayer,
and as
practiced here,
is a a
of religion
at the state expense.
Thank you.
Mr. Mayor, Mayor pro tem, and the
honorable councilors, for the record, my
name is Dr. Adam Amador.
Today, I stand before you with urgency.
We are losing too many of our young
people. Some lose their lives.
Others carry lasting physical and
emotional trauma. Many more are living
in fear, and that is not the sign of a
healthy community.
It is a sign of a system under strain.
We must be clear about what is
happening. Public health, public
education, and public safety are
interconnected public goods. When one
erodes, the others follow.
And right now, we are seeing the
consequences of that erosion across all
three.
This is not just affecting individuals.
It is impacting our the foundation of
our community, including small
businesses.
Small business owners are the backbone
of the city. They create jobs, provide
opportunity, and invest in our
neighborhoods. But when safety declines,
when instability becomes normalized, and
when leadership appears divided, they
pay the price first. They reduce hours,
they hesitate to hire, and in some
cases, they close. This affects every
law-abiding citizen who depends on a
stable, functioning local economy.
At the same time, the everyday resident,
the parent, the worker, the student, is
experiencing a decline in the quality of
life. People do not feel safe, and trust
is eroding.
And we also need to be honest about
outcomes.
Efforts carried out under the auspices
and in the name of social justice must
be judged by their results,
not their intent. When actions lead to
greater instability or future or fewer
opportunities, it is often
black, brown, Native American, and
low-income families who are most
negatively impacted. That is not social
justice.
That is a failure to deliver meaningful
change.
Quality of life in Las Cruces is social
justice.
And what is modeled here matters. Too
often we see division without direction,
criticism without solutions, disruption
without accountability. Our young people
are watching. If we cannot demonstrate
respectful, solution-oriented
leadership, we should not be surprised
when conflict escalates elsewhere.
So, here's a path forward.
Mayor, while there may be differences in
belief, we recognize your willingness to
serve. Mayor Pro Tem, initiatives like a
youth council, mentorship programs, and
job pathways are essential and should be
prioritized. To the councilors, there
are community members, including
business leaders, ready to partner with
you, not just to talk, but to act. But,
understand this, our community cannot
afford delay. This moment requires
alignment, accountability, and measured
results. Our young people deserve safety
and opportunity. Our small businesses
deserve stability, and our residents
deserve a better quality of life. We can
do better. We must do better, and the
time to act is now.
Councilors, ahora es cuando. The time is
now. Work together with us or get out of
the way.
Thank you.
Good afternoon, city council
and the mayor. Good afternoon. My name
is Leslie Woods.
The New Mexico Constitution
says every man shall be free to worship
God according to the dictates of his own
conscience, and no person shall ever be
molested or denied any civil or
political right or privilege on account
of his religious opinion or mode of
religious worship. No person shall be
required to attend any place of worship
or support any religious sect or
denomination, nor shall any preference
be given to law to any religious
denomination or mode of worship.
Consider these words.
No person shall be required to attend
any place of worship or support any
religious sect or denomination.
When the city allows religious services
on City Hall grounds, it is providing
city resources to a religious purpose.
We want the city to stop doing that.
We are asking the City Council to pass a
resolution forbidding the use of these
City Hall grounds from hosting religious
services, including and especially the
National Day of Prayer, May 7th this
year.
As Trump has declared his intention of
making religion great again, thus
declaring his intention to use the
government to promote religion, it is
incumbent on the City Council to take a
stand against the erosion of the wall
between church and state.
Thank you very much.
[applause]
Good afternoon, Mayor and City Council.
My name is Laura Jansen.
I am not against Christianity. I am not
against any religion.
Everyone must be free to practice any
religion as they see fit, and everyone
has the right to have no religion at
all.
I agree with separation of church and
state. No religion should influence our
government, be it federal, state,
county, or city. Moreover, no religion
should influence our laws.
The city of Las Cruces holding a
National Day of Prayer on city property
sends the message of exclusion for all
people who are not Christians.
In this era of the rise of Christian
nationalism, it is even more important
to keep religion far away from
government and our laws.
This is not a Christian country.
Religion should not have influence on
our government or our laws.
A religious prayer event held at City
Hall sends the wrong message.
Please show your support for separation
of church and state by not holding a day
of prayer on city property. Thank you.
Good afternoon. My name is Daniel
Castleberry. I'm a retired United
Methodist clergyman. I served 41 years,
some of that time in the New Mexico
conference, the rest of it in the New
Jersey conference. And over the course
of that period, I have always stood
unequivocally for the separation of
church and state. And it may seem
strange to you that I'm going to agree
with the persons who've already spoken
today in that I do not believe it is
appropriate for a government facility,
government building, to be used for
religious purposes. And I think the
separation of church affords everyone in
our country
the right to be religious or not
religious. And so, the ultimate respect
we can pay is to not have religious
services within government buildings.
And at that, not only I mean the only
thing we can do here is ban it here. We
may not be able to do it nationally at
this point. It should already be
national because it's in the Bill of
Rights in the Constitution that we
should not be obs- giving observance to
a particular religion. What happens? I
grew up in a small West Texas town and
whatever religious group existed in that
town that had the biggest numbers, they
dictated what happened. And it certainly
was not fair to I saw Jehovah's Witness
kids bullied because their religion
would not allow them to say the Pledge
of Allegiance.
I saw other kids bullied because they
didn't belong to the cool church, the
most prominent church. You know,
everybody should have the right to
either be religious if they want to or
choose to or to have no religion. I have
just as much respect for my atheist and
agnostic friends as I do my friends who
are Muslim, Catholic, Protestant,
Muslim,
Hindu, any other any world religion or
no religion at all. So, I just ask you
to consider what we do to provide the
ultimate respect for our residents here
in Las Cruces and that is let's respect
everyone by not
uh going in and siding with the
religious over everybody else. Thank
you.
[applause]
My voice is probably going to shake
again, but RGB says to keep talking
anyway.
City Council, Mr. Mayor, good afternoon.
My name is Haley Walker. Thank you for
the opportunity to speak with you. At an
atheist day, I ask that the city cease
having religious services on the city
hall grounds.
Using city resources to promote religion
is a breach
Using city resources to promote religion
is a breach of faith between the city
and its citizens. I pay taxes, and the
city uses those taxes in the public
interest. I don't want a penny of my tax
dollars you be used to support any
religion or religious exercise. Anything
more than nothing is too much.
Any use of city resources of my tax
dollars for such purposes, no matter how
small, violates my constitutional rights
under the New Mexico Constitution.
City Council, Mr. Mayor, unfortunately,
there are many voices intent on denying
and diminishing the principle of
separation of church and state. A prime
example is the Texas Lieutenant Governor
Dan Patrick,
president of Donald Trump's Religious
Liberty Commission, who wants a sign in
every Texas school declaring that
separation of church and state is a
myth.
Sir, it is not a myth. It is one of the
foundational principles of America. We
have separation of church and state to
protect religious liberty. We don't want
a government that is likely to favor one
religious group over another. That's
compromising religious liberty. We have
separation of church and state because
Christians wanted it to protect them
from the government interference.
Once the government decides we should
all be religious, the government will
decide what religion we should be.
I think America works best when it's
governed by our Constitution, even in
matters some may think are trivial.
It matters if ours It matters if our
city sees gives the impression
it supports religious belief over
non-belief. It matters if the city is
honest about events it allows to be held
here at City Hall.
Please set policies for the use of this
facility that makes sense, are
accessible to all, and protect the
separation of church and state. Please
do not allow religious services to be
held here at City Hall. Thank you.
Good afternoon, City Council, Mayor Pro
Tem Munoz.
Mr. Mayor,
my name's Jim Hurst.
Mr. Mayor, we are here today to call
this council and you, sir, to recognize
our constitutional rights.
Article 2, Section 11 of the New Mexico
Constitution states, and I quote, "No
person shall be required to attend any
place of worship or support any
religious sect or denomination,
nor shall any preference be given by law
to any religious denomination or mode of
worship."
Mr. Mayor, the City of Las Cruces
sponsors a religious service here at
City Hall. And with the exception of
last year, it has done so nearly every
year.
It is called the National Day of Prayer
Service. It's held at noon on the first
Thursday of May at the flag poles here
at City Hall.
Mr. Mayor, this is a breach of our
Constitution in that citizens are
required to support the city through our
taxes, and the city has no right to use
those resources to support or or
religion.
In spite of our Constitution, this
unconstitutional tradition has been
practiced for many years,
to my knowledge, without city council
approval or recognition.
Indeed, I have spoken to many councilors
who were unaware of these events.
As I read the city charter,
all authority in Las Cruces is granted
to the city council.
And no one has the authority to do
anything without the approval of the
city council.
Mr. Mayor,
where is it granted that anyone,
including you or the city staff, has the
authority to authorize a religious
service on these grounds?
I'm also aware, Mr. Mayor, that you and
the city council have been deceiving the
citizens of this city by pretending that
the National Day of Prayer services are
being held without authorization of the
city.
The jig is up, Mr. Mayor.
I know there is a National Day of Prayer
service scheduled for this Thursday, May
7th, at 12:00 noon.
I know that because your staff informed
me in the presence of two witnesses that
the flagpole area is reserved at that
time and date for the group that has
traditionally used the space.
So, the city cannot pretend that the
National Day of Prayer services are
being held without the city knowledge or
authorization.
So, we are coming to you this morning
or this this afternoon to ask this
council to support the principle of
separation of church and state
and pass a resolution forbidding the use
of city hall and its grounds for
religious services.
Thank you very much.
Mr. Mayor, City Council, I think there
has been a gross misunderstanding.
Um, I am the president of National Day
of Prayer.
You'll have to state your name for the
record, please.
Taylene Jaco. I am the president of the
National Day of Prayer Task Force. I
have been in charge of the uh city
events that have happened over the last
10 years. Prior to that, I don't know
what um was in record, but I do I can
tell you that every year I have called
and I have requested just the same way
as I know everyone else has to use the
flag area.
Last year was the first year that we
were ever told that um we I got a call 2
weeks before
the event and they told us that there
was a conflict of
um
scheduling and that we would have to
move.
We got the same call this year.
Um
I called
in November and I was told that we had
the the area
and I called back to double-check about
bringing our own
all of our own equipment
and what we would need to use to do to
use our own equipment and making sure
that we weren't utilizing anything other
than public grounds.
I was told yes that we had the area, but
3 weeks ago I was called and told that
we no longer have the area because there
was a conflict in scheduling.
That's fine. So, we have moved.
Um so, I feel like this is null and
void, but I do want to continue talking
about this because
um,
I I'm hearing that it's just for
Christians alone, and that it is not.
Um, I thank Mr. Hirsch for opening my
eyes to the nuns and looking into that.
I did not know that he was speaking on
this today. So, I'm actually here for
something else, but I'm glad I'm here.
Um, I now know that nuns don't have to
be atheist or agnostic. They just uh
agree that um,
organized religion may not be the way to
go, and I quite agree with that in
several different ways.
I agree that we all need to be free to
set to um, celebrate the prayer, and the
confrontational person I am not, so I do
believe that we have addressed this,
and um,
I wish I had more time to go into this.
If I had known, I probably would have
been able to prepare a better statement.
I just want to say that Jesus himself
did not agree with an organized religion
that caused division. And if we together
cannot come together in unity for peace,
how do we allow anyone, each of us, to
coexist? We are made for love in his
image, and he is love.
Thank you.
Mayor Council, Juan Garcia.
Over a thousand guns have been stolen in
the past 5 years in Las Cruces. 1,069
as reported by LCPD. That's 213 guns
gone every year, nearly one every 2
days. And that count is what people
bothered to report. Who knows how many
disappear and never make the stats. The
sad part is if those gun owners had
actually locked up their guns,
we probably wouldn't be having this
conversation. Or how many citizens, to
include those teens murdered during the
Young Park massacre, or most recently
13-year-old Chris Carnelo, who was
killed by a 13-year-old, would still be
alive.
A 13-year-old who can't legally buy,
possess, or hold a weapon committed
murder.
Was this crime committed using a stolen
gun?
From Chief Story, and I quote,
"These firearms that are being stolen
are not being used for lawful purposes.
They're going to be used in the
commission of a crime or for some
malevolent purposes. What's worse, we
believe most of auto burglaries where
guns are stolen are being committed by
young people who are using the stolen
firearms or selling them to their
friends who will use them in crimes."
End of quote. If you can't keep your
guns safe, you should face real
consequences.
This isn't about gun confiscation or the
kind of control
pushed by Senator Solis and Senator
Hamlin.
If you're a responsible gun owner, it's
time to step up and hold yourself
accountable. This action, plus what
Senator Diamond Bentley is proposing,
can make a difference. And I quote, "A
teenager can commit violent offense
after violent offense
short of premeditated murder and never
trigger meaningful accountability.
My legislation closes that gap for
offenders 15 and older. It says we're
not giving We're not going to wait until
someone is killed to intervene.
We're going to step in while there's
still time to change
the trajectory. That intervention comes
with real accountability, but also with
education, rehabilitation, and a
structured path forward."
There must be serious consequences for
serious offenses and a meaningful way
for our law to deter escalating
violence. End of quote.
So, two questions for this community.
How many more kids will be murdered
before gun owners start safeguarding
their weapons?
That is
are you going to back Senator Brantley's
new bill or not?
We're talking about responsible gun
ownership. Thank you.
Good afternoon, Mayor. My name is Eddie
Thomas.
Uh and I'm here to speak to you uh
regarding several issues, but uh
I want to get some commendations out of
the way. First of all, I want to commend
you for having the courage
to speak uh
uh regarding your personal beliefs
regarding abortion.
I commend you for having that courage.
Second thing, I want to commend you on
the Mita Las Cruces celebration that we
had just this last weekend. Uh it was uh
me and my mother thoroughly enjoyed it.
The uh Azteca dancers, the Ballet
Folklorico, the Mariachis,
the 575 band.
Uh you pulled off a good one. So, I I
thank you for it and I just want to let
you know that we thoroughly enjoyed it.
Uh my next commendation to you, sir, is
regarding my area, which I brought up to
you the last time I got up and spoke
regarding the um
Casas the Casas Lindas project, which is
where I live.
Uh
and uh this morning
uh the city personnel came out and they
swept the street and a Vactor truck came
out and sucked up the the the uh
remaining water since I don't have
drainage. And I know that
uh Mr. David Sabio is is working on that
and then so I I want to commend you and
thank you for that. However,
let me just give you a a brief update on
what's going on in the uh on the
adjacent street, um
Calle del Sol.
It It's still a muddy mess, okay? The
barricades the street barricades are
gone,
uh which is good.
Uh
the
porta-potties are gone.
Uh
and so is the heavy equipment.
But, there's
there's nothing going on and I hope
there's something planned in the works
to bring another contractor in or
something to give it a continuance to
bring it to its uh to its end.
I must tell you though that uh
I have a fear
of what it's going to look like for my
street once the project comes to my
street and uh and uh the uh
renewal starts going on there. I hope it
doesn't take a year and a half to
complete. I do not want to be like the
uh my neighbors on uh Calle del Sol. And
then just in one more quick note, the
park at the end of the street, there's a
little park there at the end of of uh
Calle del Sol and Calle del Encanto.
Uh you guys have neglected the grass. If
it wasn't for the recent rains, the
grass would be completely dead. So, I
hope you can save that park. I'm sure
the grass will come back if you guys
continue to water it. So, thank you.
Good afternoon, mayor, councilors,
everyone. My name is Yoli Diaz.
We've requested a meeting with your
staff to speak on the city's authority,
responsibility, and co-opportunity to
address gaps in access to health care
for indigent residents. We will be
asking for your support and approval.
The city of Las Cruces created the
Telshor fund from the lease of Memorial
Medical Center. Those funds are public
resources and carry with them a clear
public purpose to benefit the health and
welfare of this community. At the same
time, Doña Ana County operates an
indigent health care program pursuant to
New Mexico law with the responsibility
to provide care for qualifying
residents. However, when gaps exist,
particularly in access to hospital-based
services and diagnostics, there is both
a policy and legal basis for
intergovernmental
collaboration to address those gaps. New
Mexico law expressly allows local
governments to enter into joint powers
agreements and memoranda of
understanding to provide services that
serve a public purpose. This includes
the ability to pool resources, avoid
duplication, and ensure continuity of
care across jurisdictions.
Given the documented concerns regarding
barriers to hospital care over the past
decade, the city is justified in taking
corrective action that directly supports
access to care.
For that reason, I am requesting that
the city enter into a memorandum of
understanding or joint powers agreement
with Doña Ana County and allocate
$500,000 from the Telshor fund to the
county's indigent program, specifically
restricted for diagnostic services and
medically necessary care resulting from
a diagnosis.
This proposal is grounded in three key
policy principles. First, access to
care. Diagnostic services are an
essential entry point into the health
care system. Without them, conditions
cannot be identified or treated in a
timely manner, undermining the
effectiveness of all downstream care.
Second, fiscal responsibility. Funding
diagnostics reduces higher downstream
costs associated with delayed treatment,
emergency care, and uncompensated
hospital services. Early intervention is
widely recognized as a cost containment
strategy.
Third, accountability. Where a public
asset, such as a formally city-county
owned hospital, has not fully met com
community expectations for access, it is
appropriate for the city to use
available public funds to mitigate those
impacts and ensure residents are not
left without options.
An MOU or JPA structure would also
provide necessary safeguards, including
defined eligibility, restricted use of
funds, reporting requirements, and
measurable outcomes. This ensures
transparency and alignment with the
intended public purpose of the Telshor
fund.
This is a legally permissible, policy
sound, and fiscally responsible action
that directly advances the health and
welfare of the community.
I respectfully urge the city to
consider, support, and move forward with
this proposed partnership and funding
allocation. Thank you for your
consideration.
Good afternoon, mayor, mayor pro tem,
and council. My name is Jan Thompson. I
am a person of faith, and it is as a
person of faith that I
want to add my name to others who have
already spoken regarding the separation
of church and state.
I am aware of two instances with that
have occurred within the last couple of
months that violate the separation of
church and and state principle.
I doubt very seriously that council was
informed that these were going to happen
or were asked for their blessing
regarding them, but I will hold council
responsible for ensuring that this
stops.
Thank you.
Good afternoon, city council and mayor.
My name is Victor Jaco, and I want to
address
the National Day of Prayer.
And I'm going to read a little dialogue
here. It's It goes like this. The
National Day of Prayer complies with the
separation of church and state because
it is voluntary, non-coercive call for
reflection rather than a
government-mandated religious practice.
As a symbolic recognition of the role of
faith in American history,
it falls under the category of
ceremonial deism, which the Supreme
Court has often distinguished from the
establishment of state religion. No
threat.
It is not
a threat to force or adapt a religion
under government rather than rather a
place to ensure the freedom to stand for
your own beliefs. I believe we have the
freedom of speech. Under Public Law
82-324
Section 119 signed by
the president in 1958,
no person
is forced, but rather stands for the
freedom to maintain
if the resolution is made the even or
sorry, if the resolution is made the
even a national day of reason could not
even be held as the same could say this
form of belief
is a religion in itself.
Religion is a social culture system,
designated behaviors, practices, morals,
beliefs, worldviews, texts, sanctified
places, prophecies, ethics,
or organizations that generally relates
humanity to supernatural, transcendent,
centennial, or spiritual elements.
We have similar driving force.
We fight for separation of church and
state.
In the stand to make sure our liberties
are never taken away for from us.
One of those indeed is prayer.
Prayer is not a religion. It is your
livelihood or a relationship. The mayor
has not changed who he was when he was
elected. He has practiced who he was
when elected. He has practiced his own
liberties. He has done this the same way
before and after election.
Consistent, I love it. This is not
enforcement of a way to believe but
rather the freedom to be able to
continue.
That's all I have. Thank you.
Good afternoon, Mayor City Council. My
name is Lucas Hernan for the record.
Um
I was looking forward to potentially not
having to come to City Council this week
um
after coming week after week fighting
hard for the GRT and the ongoing respect
that this community asks for
um from our elected officials.
Um
and yet again, I stand before you after
the Las Cruces Police Department killed
a person in the act
of being a human person. Um
And I know
and I know I can already
imagine the posts after this where my
testimony here is taken from the public
record and put onto the private YouTube
page of certain political activists in
this community um at my expense and my
family's. Um
But I can't help but think of uh this
quote from Angela Davis, "Prisons do not
disappear problems, they disappear human
beings."
And the practice of disappearing vast
numbers of people from poor, immigrant,
and racially marginalized communities
has literally become big business. And
I think about posts from the Las Cruces
Police Department this week about how
many service calls they received. And I
think about the press releases that they
put out in the videos
and their requests for more and more and
more dollars to continue
whatever it is that they do.
Which based on the statistics of both
this city and our state continues to be
the most dangerous state to exist in
when it comes to being shot and killed
by the police.
The Mapping Police Violence Project
updates their records in the middle of
the month. So we don't actually have
[snorts]
an update, but
for going back through the middle of
April, New Mexico continues to lead the
nation.
Once again, for the third or fourth or
fifth year in a row.
As the most dangerous place to exist.
To be killed by the police.
Um
The argument about the man killed and
what he is or what he was or what he was
doing or what he might have done
is irrelevant.
We live in a police state
where
the police get to eke out
justice as they see fit based on their
quote-unquote training.
That is always the excuse.
And so I will continue to show up
every time they talk about funding the
police for quote-unquote more training.
Because all I can hear is to learn how
to kill us better.
And to kill learn how to kill us more.
every single time.
Tim Jenkins here.
I stand before you today as a concerned
member of our community.
And as of today, we are now 123 days
into 2026.
And me personally, all by myself, have
had to call LCPD 127 times now.
With 119 of those times being in
District 4 under the watch of Joanna
Bencomo.
Let me repeat that one more time.
119 times I've had to call LCPD in
District 4 in attempt to make our
community safer for all.
So, my question is, what Joanna Bencomo,
what is it that you are doing in your
own community to make this community
safer for all?
Because from my side of the aisle, it
doesn't look like much.
And let's also mention that three
members on this dais last month wasted
over 2 hours of time going round and
around about how to defund the police.
To the point that one council member
says, "I don't even know why we are
still having this conversation. We all
know that the police get whatever they
want. So, why not just take the funds
from public safety and they will figure
out how to get them back."
The same council member also says she
will not sit by and allow Border Patrol
to terrorize our children.
I have never in the history of my life
seen either Border Patrol or law
enforcement terrorize our community as
you suggest along with others.
In fact, what I did witness 2 weeks ago
was an individual on the highway
approaching a Border Patrol Station
driving extremely careless and erratic.
To which I managed to get in front of
him and pulled into the Border Patrol
Station two cars in front of him and
alerted Border Patrol that something was
not right.
Turns out this individual had over 7,000
lb of liquid cocaine marked as aloe vera
in the back of his vehicle.
This right here is the track record of
our law enforcement officers and Border
Patrol who we back and support 100%.
Not the account that you and your
progressive friends portray day in and
day out as to defund and strip funds
from their department to open our
community to even more danger.
God bless and protect our officers from
the evil that lurks in the very chambers
we stand in today.
We as a community back and support our
officers in all their efforts to make
the city safer for all. Thank you.
Okay, thank you. Next is I will read a
closed statement that took place today,
May 4th.
The Las Cruces City Council met in
closed meeting on May 4th, 2026 at
10:02 a.m. The following were in
attendance: Councilor Harris, Bencomo,
Muñoz, McClure, Curran, myself the Mayor
Eric Enriquez,
Utilities Director Adrian Wimmer,
Dominique Dominique Rodriguez, Sonia
Delgado, Christine Rivera, Brad Douglas,
and our City Manager Eekony Dimopayeos.
Outside of
Council was Melissa Westbrook, John
Stump, John S- Shoemaker, Jay Stein, Non
Winter, James Brockman, members of the
utility board member board
were Philip
Simpson,
Dwight Eggers, James McElroy, and Edmund
Archuleta.
The items were discussed to discuss
water rights, which is closed pursuant
to New Mexico state statute 1978 section
10 15-1 H8. We also discussed threatened
litigation in the matter of Benjamin
Ochoa, claim number 2025
ALO 144.
We discussed the threatened litigation
in the matter of Jose Puente and Juan
Flores Cifuente.
And also discussed the threatened
litigations in the manner of in the
matter of Juan Carlos
All were in closed pursuant to New
Mexico state statute 1978 section 10
I'll note that 11:55 outside council
utilities
and utility board members left. The
meeting adjourned at 12:27 p.m.
Next is the acceptance of agenda.
Move to accept.
Second.
Mayor, I'm sorry. Can we pull 7.1 from
consent?
We have a motion and a second. Are we
okay with uh pulling 7.1 from those that
made the motion and the second?
Yes.
Who did you make the second?
Yes.
I didn't make the second.
No, Harris did.
Yes.
Okay. Sorry.
Okay. Thank you.
Yeah, we're good. This is uh the motion
to accept the agenda as presented with
removal of item 7.1 for discussion.
Um Counselor McLear?
Yes.
Counselor Matias?
Yes.
Counselor Harris?
Yes.
Counselor Bencomo?
Yes.
Counselor Curran?
Yes.
Counselor Muñoz?
Yes.
Mayor?
Yes.
Do that one first.
Okay, we'll start with item
7.1 resolution number 26-135.
Good afternoon, Mayor, Councilors. My
name is Donnie Prossise, Purchasing
Supervisor for the Financial Services
Department.
there a motion and a second?
Sorry.
Terribly sorry.
We need a motion.
Motion to approve.
Second.
Go ahead, Donnie.
Thank you, Mayor. Uh Donnie Prossise,
Purchasing Supervisor for the record.
And before you is a resolution to
authorize an existing contract purchase
agreement for program evaluation
services.
The City of Las Cruces is slated to
receive almost $10 million dollars
settlement funds related to nationwide
and state opioid legislation. And on
August 18th, 2025, City Council passed
resolution 26-025,
adopting a 2-year funding strategy for
the use of opioid settlement funds. The
city and Doña Ana County will be
coordinating efforts to use the
settlement funds for delivery of
treatment services and prevention
programs.
Through discussions between leadership
and the opioid settlement advisory
committee, the city and county agreed
that a unified evaluation approach is
necessary to ensure consistent metrics,
shared reporting, and accountability
across all contracted service providers.
The financial services department is
requesting authorization to contract
with Pivot Evaluation LLC of
Albuquerque, New Mexico for independent
evaluation and reporting for the
settlement-funded programs delivered
jointly by the city and county.
Pivot will support the city and county
by conducting program evaluations tied
to opioid-related services, including
reviewing provider service data,
developing evaluation plans, and
aligning metrics with community
strategies and state and national opioid
response frameworks.
Advising on data collection methods,
analyzing outcomes, preparing required
reports, and helping ensure compliance
with expectations for jointly funded
programs, and meeting regularly with
city and county teams to review
deliverables, establishing evaluation
frameworks, and coordinate ongoing tasks
outlined in the memorandum of
understanding and task orders.
Without these program evaluation
services, the city and county would lack
unified, credible reporting needed to
comply with expectations for opioid
settlement funding. This could affect
transparency and long-term funding
justification. Each entity would have to
conduct its own evaluation, leading to
inconsistent metrics, duplicated effort,
and potentially conflicting data.
Service providers would receive less
structured guidance on reporting
requirements, reducing the ability to
program effectiveness and impact.
The city and county may face delays or
challenges in demonstrating outcomes to
governing bodies, including city council
and the board of county commissioners,
which were previously presented with a
shared evaluation model.
Services from Pivot are available via
Doña Ana County contract number 26-165
for a potential term through November
30th, 2029.
Las Cruces Municipal Code Chapter 24,
Section 24-4, Authorized Exemptions,
authorizes the city to utilize contracts
from other entities. Utilization of
these contracts allows for efficient and
cost-effective procurement of goods and
services to meet the city's needs.
The Financial Services Department is
requesting authorization to contract
with Pivot via County contract number
26-125
in an amount not to exceed $147,253,
including applicable taxes, subject to
approved budget appropriations.
With that, these are your options, and I
stand for questions.
Thank you, Donnie.
Councilor Bencomo.
Thanks, Mayor. Thank you so much for the
presentation. I'm Um thank you for the
update. Um feel like we hadn't gotten
one in a little while, so this is good
to have you all here. I'm curious about
um once this if this is approved today
and they start making recommendations,
how often then council and county
uh governing bodies will get an
opportunity to hear these projects.
Mayor, Councilor Bencomo, for that, I'm
going to have to defer to Wes, who I
believe is here from our fire
department.
Dream team.
Hi. Uh my name is Athena Huckaby. I am
the uh special projects manager for Doña
Ana County and I'm overseeing the
expenditure of the opioid settlement
funds.
My answer to that would be as often as
you'd like. I would say
um
yearly reporting is required but the
OSAC
the uh
would be meeting once once a month and I
would want to have updates no less than
quarterly personally.
But I don't know how you all feel. Would
that be sufficient do you think or
think so. I wouldn't you know want to
overburden the committee either. So I
think
honestly yeah, I would really appreciate
something like that.
Okay.
I think we can definitely make that
happen.
Thank you.
Mhm.
Um Mr. Mayor and Madam Bencomo,
the city of Las Cruces accountability
website is also being updated regularly.
We have a live graph or live chart that
will tell you where like when the
revenues are coming in and we're working
with management to get
a report or graph that will show
expenditures as well.
But we're not expecting expenditures
with these contracts until July 1st.
Okay, thank you so much for that. I had
completely forgotten about that. And
congratulations on your new role. That's
very exciting to hear someone like you
is is
running the show.
Thank you both.
I'm really excited about it. Thank you.
Seeing no other questions, Christine.
This is on the motion to approve
resolution 26-135.
Council McLer?
Yes.
Council Matisse?
Yes.
Council Harris?
Yes.
Council Bencomo?
Yes.
Council Curran?
Yes.
Council Muñoz?
Yes.
Mayor?
Yes.
Thank you. Thank
I'm falling over.
Next thing in the agenda is item 8.1,
resolution number 26-138.
Mayor, I apologize. I didn't say this
during the conflicts of interest, but
because I serve on the board of one of
the organizations on this list, I would
like to recuse myself for this
consideration. So, I I'm just saying
that before we move to approve, I'll
step out.
That's on this one, 8.1?
Yes.
Okay. Thank you.
Yes.
Move to approve.
Second. [clears throat]
Okay, Sylvia.
Hello.
Are we ready?
Yes, go ahead, Sylvia.
Good afternoon, Mayor,
members of City Council.
My name is Sylvia Caldera, Housing and
Neighborhood Services Specialist.
The resolution that I present before you
is for the allocation of the Telshor
facility funds for the health-related
public services.
These grants are awarded to various
non-profit agencies in Las Cruces based
on a recommendation from the Health and
Human Services Advisory Board.
On August 4th, 2025, Council approved
resolution number 26-018,
earmarking up to 600,000
for the next 4 years to fund
health-related public service programs
with the interest from the Telshor fund.
The city conducted a
application process with the non-profit
sector.
A press release was sent out. We
advertised on the city's website and
sent emails with our inter-agency list.
Grants are awarded on a 2-year funding
cycle with the renewal of the second
year based on program performance.
The health-related public service grants
are to help support the physical,
mental, developmental, emotional, social
well-being, as well as safety and
housing needs of the city of Las Cruces
residents, and to improve the lives of
sick, indigent, or low-income people of
the city of Las Cruces.
On March 4th, 2026,
the Health and Human Services Advisory
Committee recommended to fund a total of
$600,000
to the following 18 non-profit
organizations. Each organization would
be awarded $33,333
per year.
Here are your standard council options,
and I stand for any questions.
Okay, thank you, Sylvia. Council
McClure.
Yeah, I had a question on um it says
it's to support all the needs that, you
know, of various types. Um how are the
current needs assessed for Las Cruces
residents?
I'm going to defer this question to Ms.
Natalie Green.
Uh Mr. Mayor, Council McClure, so the
Housing and Neighborhood Services staff
does a needs assessment every 5 years.
In fact, you will be approving that in
the next action item, and so we use that
as part of our priority setting for uh
our application processes.
Thank you. I'm just I feel like I'm
slight deja vu because last year too I
had said, "I don't quite understand how
all the needs cut exactly the same way."
And so, I find it disturbing that we
haven't been able to kind of say, "Hey,
there is a there's a couple more needs
in this arena than this arena." And it
just seems like we could be doing better
to give money that is impactful.
Um Mr. Mayor Council or the
recommendation is based on the
committee. So, the committee has the
option to give some agencies more or
less.
Um typically, they have done even
increments just for ease of contracting,
but uh we do that competitive
application every 2 years. So, we can
look at changing the application process
um before the next round.
I'm not entirely sure how it's
competitive if they're going to all get
the same amount of money. And I also
kind of spoke to my representative, too,
who's on that board and it wasn't didn't
seem even reading the minutes that there
was that kind of conversation. And
perhaps I missed it in previous minutes.
I'll I'll give you that. But, I did not
feel that that was a true reflection of
the needs of the Las Cruces citizens.
Okay, we can take that into
consideration for the next application
process. Uh the application and uh
guidebook is adopted by City Council and
so we're just using the guidebook that
was previously adopted by the council.
But, we can look at changing that for
the following year.
Um Natalie, again, when is that
application process when does it
actually start?
Um Mr. Mayor, we run alternate
application processes. So, uh this year
is year one for health-related public
services. It started in November of 20
five and it goes through uh May, which
is today, and then we'll work on
contracts. Next year is a CDBG year. so
CDBG again will start in October or
or November. We'll solicit applications,
go through that scoring process again,
and then health-related will be up again
in 20
Oh, 27.
for the 28 fiscal year.
But Council can make interim funding
decisions at any time.
Council just sets a allocation of the
600 for the competitive process, so
Okay, thanks Natalie. Mayor Pro Tem.
Thank you, Mayor. City Councilors,
Natalie, could you explain the CDBG just
for the
edification of the public?
Sure, we're actually going to cover it
in the next presentation. So, Community
Development Block Grant funds, there is
a small portion that's a 15% of our
entitlement allocation that's set aside
for public service programs, and then
there's also a competitive application
for other funding pots. But again, I'll
cover that in the next presentation more
fully.
Thank you, Natalie. Thank you, Mayor.
Councilor Rincon Ochoa.
Natalie, thank you. And Sylvia, thank
you for the presentation. Um
Do you have Is it seven members of the
committee?
Mr. Mayor,
Councilor Rincon Ochoa, there is seven
members. There has not been seven
members in a while.
We are going to work with the clerk's
office to send reminders to the rest of
the committee. It does make it
challenging when there's not
full membership of the board, so we
would like to get some additional
members.
Yeah, thank you, Natalie. I always like
to ask this question when we talk about
this item specifically because I think I
mean, all boards obviously are really
important, but I do think this board
particularly has um
you know,
like this responsibility, so it's
important that we um folks to apply, and
then perhaps if you know we're really
lacking folks figuring out a way to try
to recruit folks that are interested in
this because I know it's pretty
important. So, thank you.
Okay, seeing no other questions.
Christine?
This is on the motion to approve
resolution 26-138.
Councilor Mclaire?
No.
Councilor Matice?
No.
Councilor Harris?
Yes.
Councilor Bencomo?
Yes.
Councilor Corrine recused herself.
Councilor Munoz?
Yes.
Mayor?
Yes.
Motion passes.
Thank you.
Next is item 8.2 resolution number
26-139.
Move to approve.
Second.
Good afternoon Mr. Mayor, members of
council. Natalie Green for the record.
The resolution before you is adoption of
the 2026 to 202030 consolidated plan,
the program 26 action plan, and then the
city's analysis of impediments to fair
housing choice.
Just a little bit of background today.
This is a HUD required
planning document that must be performed
every three to five years. Because of
the level of investment we choose to do
it every 5 years. It uses both a mix of
data and community outreach to identify
the top housing and community needs and
supportive service needs in the city.
As part of that process, it includes a
strategic plan with goals and priorities
and then proposes the use of CDBG and
home funds
through the action plan.
The analysis of impediments is a
separate document that identifies
housing barriers
and
supports fair housing requirements as
part of our further affirming fair
housing requirements from the federal
government. As part of the process, we
conduct a series of public input
meetings, surveys, outreach targeted to
low to moderate income populations. In
this case, we did
over 10,000 postcards to LMI census
tracts and then we also put about the
6,000 postcards in food pantry boxes
across the county.
We had a city council work session and
then prior to the adoption and today's
action, we also had a 30-day public
comment period and we did receive two
public comments or two written comments.
As part of the plan, it does outline
five goals for the next 5 years. The
first is to increase affordable housing
supply, preserve existing housing,
enhance economic well-being, enhance
quality of infrastructure and prevent
and reduce homelessness.
The priority needs outlined in the plan
is for affordable rental housing for
workforce and low-income renters,
affordable homeownership opportunities,
home improvement and ADA improvements
for low-income owners and renters and
then to work on subsidized housing and
supportive services for residents who
have special needs.
As part of the
this year, we received uh
just about 1.6 million between uh
development block grants and home
entitlement partnership uh funds. We did
have some unexpected payoff, so uh it's
always nice to get some uh program
income. So, we are also allocating that
program income as part of uh the action
plan. The home program income came from
the sale of a multi-family tax credit,
so we our loan was reimbursed. And then
uh the
CDBG program income was from a home
rehab home rehabilitation project that
also uh paid off.
As part of our recommendations for CDBG
funding, uh the first is our
administration that helps cover uh
implementation of the program, staff
salaries, and some um
supplies, and uh general administration.
Uh we are dedicating the bulk of our
funds to our home rehabilitation program
that'll cover both um
rehabilitation of single-family homes,
our mobile home rent program, and then
some of our utility connection and
expansion programming.
Uh we received some applications for
funding. Uh we are recommending the
award of uh Jardín de los Niños. That is
a infrastructure improvement program, so
they will be using that funding uh to
uh ensure their building stays uh
certified for uh their programming.
We're also awarding funding to Abode,
Inc., and that will be to support uh
the energy efficiency, some replacement
of windows, and other improvements, uh
and that is a supportive housing
project.
As part of that, uh we allocate up to
15% of our total entitlement plus
program income to public services.
Uh we are recommending
four agencies. They're in year two, so
they went through a competitive process
last year, and this will be uh their
year two award, and they have met their
compliance uh
requirements. Uh the first agency is
Casa de Peregrinos, the second Mesilla
Valley Community Hope, Mesilla Valley
Casa, and La Casa Inc. And those amounts
are all in equal increments.
As part of the home funding, we're
recommending again program
administration.
Uh, there is more program administration
than typical because we got the program
income, otherwise that uh, dollar amount
is typically less.
We have community housing development
operating funds going to Mesilla Valley
Habitat and Tierra del Sol. We also have
entitlement and 200 reserve funds going
to Mesilla Valley Habitat and Tierra del
Sol for single family
uh,
affordable housing development. And then
we are funding two agencies for
tenant-based rental assistance, and that
is La Casa and Mesilla Valley Community
of Hope.
The Impediment to Fair Housing Choice
Plan outlines, I believe, five
impediments. The first is a shortage of
deeply subsidized rental housing,
especially for vulnerable groups. Uh,
there's barriers to home ownership.
There's an increase in
um, people who are unbanked or
underbanked or have limited credit
access.
Uh, housing conditions
and overcrowding and ADA improvements,
especially for seniors and people with
disabilities, were also noted within the
plan. And then um, there's an emphasis
in overcrowding for large households,
um, single parent households, and
households with disabilities.
Uh, the other two impediments are
discrimination in housing, primarily in
mobile home communities, and then in
overcrowded households and single parent
households. And then there was some
broader economic and opportunity
barriers that were identified as part of
the study. Um, higher rates of food
insecurity, uh, people who are
underinsured, underinsured, um, who
experience wage gaps or job insecurity,
and then um, there was quite a bit of
poverty concentration in the infill of
the city.
With that, you have your standard
council options and we stand for
questions.
Thank you, Natalie. Any questions?
Councilor Harris.
Um thank you, Mayor and Natalie for the
presentation. On slide on the last
slide, um can you expand on what
discrimination
we're seeing, especially in mobile
homes?
I'll have to go back to the plan, but
good thing I have it tabbed.
So, we had about 17% of Las Cruces
respondents said they felt or
experienced discrimination, primarily
It doesn't say what they were
experiencing. I'll have to dig deeper in
the report to look that up, but I can
send that at a
after this meeting.
Okay, that would be be interesting to
know.
Um
And and I guess to
hearken back to the last um topic, I am
I I would be interested in visiting our
criteria for um
those competitive awards. Um
It is
I mean, I I I know there's a lot of
overlap in services amongst all of these
organizations, um
but
splitting them up evenly
doesn't scream competitiveness, unless
they were competing against other
organizations who weren't included at
all, but that's a pretty compre- seems
to be a pretty comprehensive list of of
orgs that we have in the city.
Um so, before the next
um
application cycle, you know, I I think
I'd be interested in looking at that as
well.
Mr. Mayor, Councilor Harris will send
that application out right after this
meeting and then we are happy to take
any feedback on how to change or improve
the process.
Okay, thanks.
Mayor Pro Tem.
Thank you, Mayor and counselors.
Um
going back to slide seven or or eight.
Can you go back?
So yeah,
again not to belabor the the issue, but
um definitely I think another
consideration would be
um
contemporary events or what's happening.
And so when I when I think of what's
happening now
uh food availability, food insecurity
um is significant. So when I think of
groups like Casa de Esperanza or other
groups of that uh
the fact or the community hope, I think
that there's there are some
you know, significant needs and we have
so many priorities. I I I get that
they're competing, but um
I would think that um
on a contemporary basis we should
see what's happening around us and food
insecurity seems to be screaming at us
right now. So thank you, Natalie. Thank
you, Mayor.
Councilor Bencomo.
Yeah, I just wanted to speak to this
point that we're sort of all circling
around. Um I think
certainly the feedback from the council
on what we're seeing is important. I'd
argue the feedback from these
organizations is also important. I mean,
I think all of these organizations on
this list and the item before, they're
all organizations that work
together consistently. And then we come
out and we say, "Here's this funding.
Now you guys have to compete against
each other for frankly peanuts." And so
I I think that maybe the bigger issue
here is that um there isn't enough money
in the pot that people are competing
for. Number one. And number two, you
know, I think all of these
organizations, I assume, have to go
through a grant writing process. Like
they have to expend as nonprofits time
to write grants, which is not easy.
Um and then I think they present in
front of the committee, right? And so I
I and then the committee recommends and
if the committee is saying, "We believe
all of these organizations deserve some
part of money, then let's do that." And
and then they come to us and and we're
sort of
setting doubt over the whole process. I
feel like there's
um a level of
respect to be had and also like
recognition that it's just a really
small amount of money, frankly, and it
goes back to this conversation about
scarcity that I think we I've raised
even a couple of weeks ago when we're
talking about, you know, the budget and
GRT and all of these things that just
doesn't feel like there's ever enough,
that the need is really great. And um
there's just never enough for social
service organizations and I think that
that's always kind of a shame. Um but I
I really just want to say that um that
I'm always willing uh and ready to have
a discussion on increasing the amount
that gets that gets spent every year or
every 2 years, for sure. And then three,
I just really want to thank these
organizations for not only providing the
services that they do in our community
with limited resources, but applying,
being good partners, and of course to
the committee who
um give up their time to come up with
these recommendations for us.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor, and I will add
that we do not allow duplication of
services, so the services funded under
CDBG are distinctly different than the
services under HRPS. And within those
organizations, we also don't allow
duplicate programming, so each
individual organization will have a
distinctly different service than the
others.
Okay, seeing no other questions.
Christine.
This is on the motion to approve
resolution 26-139.
Council McLeroy?
Yes.
Council Matise?
Yes.
Councilor Harris?
Yes.
Councilor Bencomo?
Yes.
Councilor Curran?
Yes.
Councilor Muñoz?
Yes.
Mayor?
Yes.
Next is item 8.3, Council Bill number
26-019,
Ordinance number 3111.
Move to approve.
Second.
Ready?
All right. Good afternoon, Mayor members
of City Council. I'm Isaac Colgin with
Economic Development, and the ordinance
before you is a sale of city-owned land
within Las Cruces Innovation Industrial
Park
to CLS Development Partners, LLC.
The subject property is located
at 300 Rhea Boulevard and comprises of
15.3 acres.
All utilities are provided at the
subject property.
Here's a vicinity map of the subject
property. The property is on the corner
of Rhea Boulevard and Robert Lawson
Robert Larson Boulevard just east of the
Lowe's Travel Center stop station.
Here's a street and aerial view.
We received two independent appraisals
with one appraised at 617,585,
and the second appraisal coming in at
$530,000.
The negotiated purchase price is
$573,792,
and the city and buyer will split the
closing cost.
The proposed use of this property will
be a speculative warehouse with the
first phase constructing 75,000 square
foot building, and the second phase of
constructing another 75,000 square foot
building. The total
capital investment for the first phase
is 12.2 million.
And here is the site plan of the first
building a little bit highlighted bullet
and dark black and then on the future is
to the east side of the of the subject
property.
This project has a lot of benefits for
the city of Las Cruces that is aligned
with the strategic plan economic
development goals and elevate Las
Cruces. The speculative warehouse
supports key recommendations from the
adopted master plan
and most importantly it is the return on
investment for the city. The project
brings immediate private capital
investment, grows our property tax base,
grows our grocery receipts
gross receipts tax during and after
construction and also creates quality
jobs for our community.
Here are your standard council options
and I stand for questions and we also
have some of the the developers with the
CLS team here to speak just in case you
guys have any questions with them.
Thank you Isaac. Counselor Harris.
Thank you mayor and Isaac for the
presentation.
I just have one question which is pretty
general. Where when we sell land like
this where do the proceeds go inside the
city accounts?
Mayor Counselor Harris good question. So
the count the funds are split up into
accounts 50% is is going to be allocated
to the affordable housing land bank and
trust and the other 50% will be in our
our own budget here at the
economic development.
Okay. And then the budget that's in
economic development that can be used
for general operations for improving the
industrial park.
So we try to identify whether it's with
industrial park different projects that
we need such as infrastructure
as
Elizabeth mentioned earlier that there
are some projects that we allocate
investment
incentives to such as endurance
technology so some of those funds can
also be used at that at that time.
Okay, thanks.
That's all I got.
Do you have a question?
You good?
No, okay.
Yeah, if one of the representatives
would come up and kind of share,
we appreciate. Good to see you.
Hi, Mayor and how you doing, Council?
I'm Leon Alloy with CLS Development.
Sure, come up to the podium.
Yeah, so project yeah, so definitely
something that that we're attracted to
when we hear the needs of the city and
the needs of the state in terms of
speculative uh infrastructure in order
to attract jobs, which then attract
attract the rest of the economic uh
value chain. Um we do expect this to be
one of a few, so we do want to start
with this phase one.
Um but the hope and pray is that it gets
consumed like uh Ms. Elizabeth Heeter
said earlier today like some of the
other projects and we can start phase
two immediately thereafter.
Um we do want to
make it a true class A product, so
hopefully something that has curb
appeal, uh something that looks nice uh
to folks driving by I-10 and so on and
so forth.
If you could also share some of your
background and why your interest in Las
Cruces.
All right, so I myself am a graduate of
New Mexico State. I was a student from
'99 to '04. Played football here,
enjoyed the city, and always thought it
would be a place to to come back and and
bring some development. Uh upon
graduation, I left and worked in oil and
gas in Houston area, ExxonMobil
specifically, for nearly 20 years and
leveraging some of the same project
management and sound engineering uh you
know, methods to bring something that's
reliable, repeatable, and uh you know,
nice to the city that can then uh spur
economic development is definitely
something that's uh you know, high on
our mission statement. So, um but as a
historical engineer, we want to build
stuff.
So, we do like building boxes, so to
speak, nice and easy and boring and let
the the business themselves then drive
the the rest of the the value chain.
That's great. Thank you. Oh, Counselor
Matias.
I'm really glad to see this. I know
Movida is back there. We've been trying
to do this I have I don't know how many
years.
Ready ready to fill warehousing. Uh
In the 8 1/2 years that I was at the New
Mexico Border Authority as director,
this is what made Santa Teresa grow.
When we had these warehouses ready and
built and the and the plats done,
we just saw the businesses pour in. So,
I really appreciate you investing in Las
Cruces and the industrial park. Economic
Development Department, thank you as
well.
Thank you.
Mayor Pro Tem.
Mayor, city councilors, thank you very
much. I just want to thank Isaac,
Selena, Elizabeth
and the CLS partners Leon for putting
this together.
We hope that this is a a venture that
will continue
for many many years ahead. Welcome to
Las Cruces.
Thank you, Mayor.
Now again, thank you.
Just an appreciation and gratitude of
you wanting to give back to Las Cruces.
Educated at NMSU playing football. It's
it's it's great that you're coming back
and trying to do something for our
community and we appreciate it and we
thank Preston also for uh
keeping you in mind and keeping you in
the loop and and recruiting you. So,
thank you.
Yes, thank
No further questions, Christine.
This is on the motion to approve
ordinance 3111.
Council McClear?
Yes.
Council Matthis?
Yes.
Council Harris?
Yes.
Council Bencomo?
Yes, and go aggies.
Council Krahn?
Yes.
Council Munoz?
Yes.
Mayor?
Yes.
Next is item 8.4, council bill number
26-020,
ordinance number 3112.
Move to approve.
Second.
Ready?
Yes, go ahead, Jan.
Good afternoon, Mayor and members of
council. Jan Latterbach with Housing and
Neighborhood Services.
The ordinance proposed allows for the
land disposition to New Wind
Incorporated for affordable housing
development.
The property, the now vacant parcel
located at 705 Fifth Street, was
acquired by the Nuisance Abatement Team,
which was formed to identify vacant,
abandoned, and unsafe properties.
And the Nuisance Abatement Team worked
with the property owners to bring those
deficiencies up
up to code.
And um and since these were the
properties could not be brought back up
to code,
the parcels were abated and foreclosed
upon.
The proposed ordinance is for the
donation of the property to New Wind
Inc. doing business as Cross Town
Ministries
for the development of support-centered
housing for women.
The deed will contain a reversionary
clause clause that ensures that
affordable housing will be constructed
on site.
New Wind Inc. is currently working with
Housing New Mexico to obtain funding for
construction on the property and they
have experience with this type of um
supportive housing currently operating
four other properties in the city of Las
Cruces.
New Wind Inc. has been certified as a
qualified grantee under the state of New
Mexico's Affordable Housing Act and that
act allows for the donation of property
for affordable housing to qualified
grantees.
The city's staff and city's Affordable
Housing Committee recommend the donation
of the property to New Wind as it
supports goals of several city plans
including Realize and Elevate Las
Cruces, our consolidated plan, our
Affordable Housing Plan, and Strategic
Plans.
City staff will file a
a LURA, which is a land use restriction
agreement on the property to ensure it
remains affordable housing for a minimum
period of 15 years.
Here's a vicinity map of the property
located on the corner of 5th and
Brownlee streets just a few blocks east
of Valley Drive.
With that, I have your standard council
options and I stand for questions and we
also have members of New Wind Inc. in
the audience for additional questions.
Thank you, Jen.
Any questions?
See no Did they want to come up and
speak or share anything?
I will have them um this is Mr. John
Pickett.
He's with New Wind Ink.
Good afternoon, Mr. Mayor Council.
Uh
it's really a privilege for us to stand
before you in this opportunity.
Uh we have been doing work with uh
transitioning men uh back from prison
for uh over 10 years.
Uh our programming has been this
successful. We only have had two men
out of 65 who've returned to prison.
We're transitioning them with
programming that starts in the prison
and then continues as they come out.
The Department of Corrections uh
called us and asked us
if we would consider a women's house.
And we said we've really wanted to do
that.
Uh and with their encouragement uh I
went to Rose Garcia.
And I'm very thankful to Rose because
she told me what to do.
And uh
and we followed her example and uh
so we're we're uh we've been to the MFA.
They have preliminary preliminarily
approved uh half a million dollars for
this project. Uh we have a contractor
Randy Farmer who you probably know uh
who is donating all of his uh
his time and material. He's gotten
several uh that have come along to uh
uh donate to us and we think we have it
covered now. Uh and if worst case
scenario if it something props up that
we don't know about uh First American
Bank has already guaranteed us a loan to
finish the project. So we're ready to go
and uh this uh will be a Department of
Corrections
New Wind partnership uh for women
returning from prison.
Any other questions you have?
Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Burke.
All right, Christine.
This is on the motion to approve
ordinance 3112. Counselor McLaurin?
Yes.
Counselor McGee?
Yes.
Counselor Harris?
Yes.
Counselor Bencomo?
Yes.
Counselor Curran?
Yes.
Counselor Muños?
Yes.
Mayor?
Yes.
Next is item 8.5.
Council [snorts] bill number 26-021,
ordinance number 3113.
Move to approve. Second.
Good day. Good afternoon, Mayor and
counselors.
Oh, hold on. Hold on. One second.
Oh, don't start yet.
Move to approve.
Second.
You're good. Don't worry. We got you.
Don't worry. Don't be scared.
Okay, go.
[laughter]
Good afternoon, Mayor and city council.
Oh my gosh. Good afternoon, Mayor and
counselors. My name is Hilda Reyes. I'm
with Housing and Neighborhood Services.
Um I am presenting an ordinance to
authorize the donation of four
city-owned vacant parcels to Tierra del
Sol Housing Corporation for their use in
affordable housing.
The Don Ana Campbell properties were
among those acquired through the NAT
process due to their deteriorated
conditions. All the parcels are ready
for housing development. The city will
file a land use restriction agreement on
the property to ensure it remains
affordable housing.
The ordinance before you today is to
donate the listed properties to Tierra
del Sol Housing
for the construction of affordable
housing.
These include the parcels located at
1240 North Tornillo Street and 1040
North Campo Street.
The 1240 North Tornillo Street property
was acquired in May of 2020. The city
replatted the original parcel, 0.33 acre
parcel, into three lots, and each parcel
is 0.11 of an acre. On the right side of
the slide is a diagram of the replat
showing how the single property was
transformed into three lots. The new
addresses are 1262, 1252, and 1242 North
Tornillo streets.
Here you can see an example of a
conceptual floor plan for the type of
house that could be developed on these
lots. The conceptual home is designed as
a three-bedroom, two-bath home with a
garage.
The vicinity map shows the location of
the three Tornillo properties, parcels,
in the surrounding neighborhood on the
corner of Poplar and Tornillo.
Here is the parcel at 1040 North Campo
Street.
This property was acquired in May of
2019. It is approximately 0.12 of an
acre.
The aerial photo outlines the parcel and
the drawing show a possible floor plan
for a family home with three bedrooms,
two bath, and a garage.
This map highlights the Campo parcel
within the neighborhood, giving a clear
view of the lot's position, and it is
near the Las Cruces Police Department.
Land disposition is allowed under the
act. Tierra del Sol is a qualified
grantee and is also a HUD-designated
community housing development
organization.
Disposition is recommended by the
Affordable Housing Committee and is in
alignment with the city's adopted plans.
Before you are your council options and
I stand for question. Also, the Havana
Soul staff is also present to answer any
additional questions. Thank you.
Thank you, Ellen. Any questions?
Yes.
Good.
No, thank you. Again, thank you, Rose,
for all that you do. Did you want to
come up and
speak? Please.
I just wanted to say something. Rose
Garcia here. Thank you, Mayor and
Council. This is while it's a small
project,
it's in the center of the city, the
oldest part of the city.
And that's a very special neighborhood
that we have worked for many years,
about 25 houses. So, we want to resume
the infill lots that you may have. We're
not asking for the money. We're asking
for your vacant lots that you have in
your land trust. And so, that's a
wonderful opportunity to be able to
build homes and offer them to the local
neighborhood. Especially like the young
families that want to live near their
parents.
And so, that's what we're marketing it
to. So, I really appreciate the
Department of Community Development that
one worked with us very wonderfully on
this so that we've been able to identify
the lots. These lots are located right
behind St. Genevieve. not St. Genevieve,
it's Our Lady of Health and then near
the police department. So, it's a it's a
great infill location.
But, thank you very much.
Well, thank you, Rose. We appreciate
you.
Christine.
Thank you.
This is on the motion to approve
ordinance 3113.
Councilor McClair?
Yes.
Councilor Matthis?
Yes.
Councilor Harris?
Yes.
Councilor Bencomo?
Yes.
Councilor Curran?
Yes.
Councilor Munoz?
Yes.
Mayor?
Yes.
Thank you. Have a great day.
Next is board appointments. I'll need a
motion and a second to reappoint to the
ADA committee Jennifer Dolgren.
So moved.
Second.
This is on the motion to reappoint
Jennifer Dolgren to the ADA committee.
Councilor McClair?
Yes.
Councilor Matthis?
Yes.
Councilor Harris?
Yes.
Councilor Bencomo?
Yes.
Councilor Curran?
Yes.
Councilor Munoz?
Yes.
Mayor?
Yes.
[clears throat]
Notice of proposed ordinances, there are
none, so we'll go to a city council
member board reports and comments.
Councilor McClair?
Thank you, Mayor. Um
I tend not to do this, but I'm going to
read something which is after you
listening to me read through seven
proclamations, I'm sure you're very
excited to do.
But, I just wanted to read this in its
totality partially because there's
always sort of a
accusation that we're not doing enough
and I think
um the slide that had the duck on it
earlier was very indicative of kind of
the paddling that's happening
underneath. And we look like cool, calm
ducks up here, but there's a lot going
on and it not just from us, but also
from our staff, more importantly.
Let me give you a little bit of context.
Um so, I met with um
myself, Pat Acosta from the Youth
Diversion Development, my uh
vice chair,
uh
Vanessa Ordoñez, and um with the big New
Mexico Juvenile Justice Advisory Board.
They came down to do a tour of all the
continuums.
So, before our meeting, which I was I
was telling them, "We're in a rebuilding
phase. I'm inviting people. Give us
time." Um we had a really good
conversation about where they wanted to
go, where the state could go, how they
could help. Um and I very much place us
on we are willing to do as much as we
can in terms of capacity. Um but here's
what we are already doing. And this is
what we received.
And just bear with me.
Dear City of Las Cruces leadership,
thank you for hosting us on our recent
site visit to Las Cruces to attend your
local continuum board meeting. On behalf
of the New Mexico Juvenile Justice
Advisory Committee, we're writing to
express our formal and unequivocal
support for the City of Las Cruces Youth
Development and Diversion Program,
administered through the Parks and
Recreation Department. This program has
established itself as a vital resource
for youth and families throughout all of
Doña Ana County, reflecting a commitment
to community safety, early intervention,
and the well-being of young people at
risk.
Over nearly 4 years, the program has
earned statewide recognition for its
community-based approach, its
responsiveness to youth needs, and its
ability to evolve based on data
outcomes, and local needs assessment.
While the Teen Innovation Mention
Prevention Program, TIP, is one of the
most visible and impactful initiatives,
it is only one example of the
high-quality services being provided.
Together, these programs create a
continuum of care that strengthens
protective factors, reduces juvenile
justice involvement, and promotes
healthier outcomes for youth countywide.
The development expansion of the TIP
illustrate the program's dedication to
addressing pressing concerns,
particularly violence prevention,
including domestic violence. In the past
year alone, services have expanded to
Chaparral, Hatch, and Anthony. I've been
incorporated into programming at the J
uh John Paul Taylor Center and will soon
extend it to the Doña Ana County
Juvenile Detention Center. These
expansions demonstrate a clear
commitment to ensuring equitable access
to prevention and diversion services
across urban and rural areas alike.
We also commend this program's
forward-looking strategy to pilot a gun
violence prevention initiative in fiscal
year '27. This effort aligns with
statewide juvenile justice priorities
and positions Doña Ana County as a
leader in proactive research-informed
prevention planning.
I've been doing a lot of reading today.
Can I have a break? Hold on.
Central to the program's success is its
highly dedicated staff.
These professionals regularly work
evenings, weekends, and travel
throughout the region to meet youth and
families where they are.
Their intensive case management,
consistent follow-up, and strong
relationships with the community
partners represent the best practices in
diversion and youth development.
The commitment demonstrated by this team
reflect the very best of City of Las
Cruces' investment in community
programming.
Given the breadth of services provided,
the scope of the countywide impact, and
the significant demands placed on staff,
the JJAC respectfully supports and
encourages the City of Las Cruces to
consider staffing levels and
compensation that appropriately reflect
the program's responsibilities,
workforce requirements, and demonstrated
outcomes. Ensuring adequate resources
will protect the stability programs for
our children and families across Doña
Ana County. Thank you for your continued
leadership and for your commitment to
supporting effective youth serving
programs. We remain available to provide
any additional information or support.
Sincerely, Thomas Waszak, chair of the
New Mexico Juvenile Justice Advisory
Committee.
So, I would like to give kudos to our
staff who do do work very hard to make
sure that we can do what we can in terms
of case management, in terms of reaching
our kids. It's hard. It's in the
beginning stages, and our next meeting
is May 27th, noon, at the WIA building.
I would like to invite legislators,
citizens, concerned people, kids.
Come on out and join us. There's always
free food. And if we have to split a
sandwich in half to feed everybody, we
will do that. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Counselor McLeroy. Counselor
Matias.
Thank you, Mayor. Uh I I just want to
bring up the possibility. I probably
need some research done.
Um I heard through the grapevine that
the the ranked-choice voting
uh
possibly was dropped in Santa Fe,
and maybe repealed in in Albuquerque,
New Mexico. And and it you know, we we
bring up resolutions now and then,
and I was thinking maybe entertaining a
a resolution in the future
and make the city of Las Cruces uh
it it repeal the ranked-choice voting.
So,
if I can get some help from the city
manager and the the legal team, Doug, if
that in fact happened in Albuquerque and
Santa Fe,
uh cuz we always do everything Santa Fe
does. So, maybe we can just follow the
the same procedure. Thank you.
Thank you, Counselor Harris.
Um thank you, Mayor. So, I um
I would also like to echo support for um
for our juvenile justice continuum and
our youth programs. Um if we if we don't
invest in
the community and um
try and get ahead of problems, then it's
going to be a lot more expensive uh for
us to address programs later.
So,
I'm just
always in support of prevention. I've
also had a few people ask me about a
youth council, and I think that is also
a very interesting idea.
You know, when we're trying to stand up
these programs, I think that it's
important that we actually hear from
the kids who would be involved and and
get their input, get their ideas instead
of
stand up here and say, "We're going to
do
all these fun things. Please come." And
then they're like, "No, thanks." That
doesn't sound great. So,
yeah, would would love to get some more
some more input, you know, via youth
city council or some other
other kinds of things that and we can
look at other cities as models for that.
Speaking of looking at other cities as
models and doing doing the same thing
other cities up north are doing,
it's
it's cool coolish right now, but it's
going to get real hot here soon. And a
lot of other cities in the Southwest and
and Albuquerque as well have passed
ordinances that require certain levels
of cooling in housing. And
you know, we've been looking at some
policy research internally. That's the
lower half of the duck.
Um
and I think if people have some thoughts
on that,
it's something that I'd be very
interested in championing and pushing
forward.
Um
that's it. Thanks.
Thank you, Counselor Brincom.
Um
the evil that lurks in this chamber has
nothing today. Thank you.
Counselor Curran.
I thought that meant me, so I'm going to
take credit. That's okay. Um
same I I do have something to say
though. I do want to wish uh
all of the NMSU grads, which I think
includes Chief Story.
Um I'm not sure. Maybe I'm
misremembering. I think I've heard from
some folks that they're graduate Is that
true?
Or I gra- Sorry. All of the people that
will be graduating in the next few weeks
regardless of institution. I won't force
you to uh admit that you that it's not
NMSU.
[laughter and gasps]
But also all of the NMSU grads
specifically um
happy graduation because I don't think
we'll meet again before then. And DACC
grads, folks who are who are achieving
all kinds of cool accomplishments
including those not from our our own
institution. Still respect. Um and
appreciation and gratitude for all those
folks. And uh their families, welcome to
town. And I please be safe driving
around. They're kind of uh taking a lot
of pictures and around a lot of Las
Cruces landmarks. So, please be safe as
as graduates are are happily um
around town.
Um I Speaking of graduation, I also
wanted to appreciate Chief Daniels for
for the invitation to the fire
department um
graduation, ascension.
Uh
what I what's I don't know what it's
officially called. I'll call it a
graduation, pinning. Um
the the folks who graduated were really
It was great to see their families and
the community support. Uh Mayor told
some really great stories in his in his
speech. So, I really appreciate it. It
gave me a lot of food for thought. So,
thanks. Thank you for that, Mayor.
Um
It was quite moving. Uh the entire
evening was quite moving. So, thank you
for the invitation. Uh and that's it.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem.
Thank you, Mayor, counselors. Um
W- With all the uh things going on in
the world and all the challenges we
faced, you know, my um
my cup was full this this weekend. I had
the opportunity to attend the NMSU
Capstone Engineering Award ceremony.
Amazing, amazing young adults, amazing
students who put together projects that
are real world and will have
an impact, you know,
maybe just not here in New Mexico or in
our country, but perhaps
internationally. And it was great to see
that that energy and Brooke Montgomery
and Dr. Gabe Garcia from NMSU put that
together to recognize those those
students and give them a
a moment in the limelight and actually
selfishly
maybe even recruiting them to to stay
here in our community.
So, I enjoyed that very much and enjoyed
city staff who was able to attend with
us.
Also, this weekend I was able to attend
the the senior soiree soirée or however
you say that, sorry. My French fails me
right now.
Wonderful event at the Munson Center.
I saw a lot of smiles from our seniors
who who have helped build our community
and who were there for us
where we took a moment to put smiles on
their faces and have them enjoy and have
a great time.
The
Greater Chamber of
of Las Cruces, the Leadership Las Cruces
Ambassadors, everyone who was involved
including our very own counselor
McClure and Sonia
who did just amazing work. It it was
just a wonderful event and
yeah, I I just couldn't tell you how
much I I enjoyed that and was a little
bit intimidated by some of the dancing
that was going on there.
Very, very talented
dancers who've been dancing for probably
80 or 90 years. So, fantastic,
fantastic. Also wanted to pause
for a moment to to talk about
um
John Delgado who who passed
uh who was a member of of our city
family.
Um
during the campaign trail, I I met him.
Uh had some very direct questions for me
and and
we had continuous discussions and
later on
he was able to make time for me
um when I wanted to understand from a
young perspective because he was a very
young adult um what some of the issues
were. I wanted to make sure I
understood. And we talked everything
from from Palestine to to
to barricades to
uh cooling systems. Just a myriad of
issues. He was so um
uh aware of of politics and and policy.
Um
But and so we would spend time at
Grounded
um the coffee having coffee or lunch and
and he would say, "Well, if I'm late,
I'll tell them I was with you." He says,
"No, don't be late, John. Don't be late.
Head back." Um but I enjoyed those
conversations and and more than uh his
being a community builder, he was a
friend.
Thank you, Mayor.
Thank you, Mayor Brotton.
Yeah, again uh
congratulations to Chief Daniels and the
Las Cruces Fire Department on their 39th
graduation academy class.
And um
now it's it's an attitude of gratitude
towards
uh individuals such as Mr. Aloya that
came up today and once uh former Aggie
that wants to give back to the
community. And on Friday, I was also um
invited to read a proclamation at the
baseball field at NMSU where Mike and
Judy Johnson uh donors and contributed
to the stadium, and now it's the Johnson
Stadium. It's still Presley Askew Field,
but it's Johnson Stadium. They did a lot
of renovations and donated for the
seats, the dugouts, the turf on the
fields, and and just made it a
spectacular place to enjoy and watch
baseball. But, it takes individuals like
that to give back to the community, and
we have so many
uh that that do that, and I just want to
say I appreciate every one that gives
back to Las Cruces and their community.
And with that, I'll turn it over to the
city manager.
Thank you, Mayor Enriques.
Um Eekane Town Powell, city manager.
Just a a brief update. There was a
a public comment shared today about
Calle del Sol, Avenida Blanco, and I
just wanted to share an update. We are
currently working with the surety
company and the bonding process. Uh a
contractor was not fulfilling their end
of the deal, and so we're working
through a process, and that does take
time. But, currently here is what's
happening. Streets crew street crew will
be removing the construction rock
entrances at the entrances, add milling,
and compact them in place for a covered
surface for improved access. This will
begin later this week.
Um
Um if if not now, I'm hearing later this
week uh
now or or tomorrow. So, it is happening
uh at this time. So, hopefully by next
public comment, uh we will see in the
the improved access. So, I just wanted
to give an update on that. And again,
this is a temporary measure until we can
figure out everything with the bonding
company so that we can keep these uh
contractors doing what they're supposed
to, or if not, they're going to have to
pay.
Additionally, I appreciate Councillor
Matias um sharing about looking into the
ranked choice voting and repealing. Um
Um, wanted to share that. Uh I hear you.
Uh, if council, if that is something
that council is interested in, just need
consensus and then we can bring that,
uh, to to you as um, as as a body. Just
let us know, Mayor, and Mayor Pro Tem
Council. Thank you for your time.
Okay, with that, uh, motion to adjourn?
Move to adjourn.
Second.
This is on the motion to adjourn the
meeting. Counselor McLaren?
Yes.
Counselor Matthis?
Yes.
Counselor Harris?
Yes.
Counselor Bencomo?
Yes.
Counselor Curran?
Yes.
Counselor Munoz?
Yes.
Mayor?
Yes.
Hey.